Merry Death

Waiting Waiting Waiting and Waiting

Dad and Nancy came in to town yesterday for a work related function. They stopped by yesterday for about 2 hours and spent most of the day here as well. Vivienne LOVED them and couldn't get enough of their attention.
Tonight we went to the big new open air mall and watched all the holiday shoppers go nuts. I think there were 50 people in the tiny closet that is the Apple store. Dad and Nancy wanted to go to Maggiano's for dinner. They went ahead and put our name on the list. It was 5:15pm. They came back and told us an hour. No big deal, we thought. We would just take a stroll around the mall and come back in a while. We came back 48 minutes later to no table. We waited in the bar and got appetizers. Vivienne has not eaten since noon and now its 6:15pm. We start her on Cheerios and Nips Cheese crackers. She has some of my soda. Its now 6:45. We have waited an hour and a half. They apparently told Dad 90 minutes, they failed to share the real quote with us. Phil and I were frantic. Even the people at other bar tables were offering to let us "pretend" we were them and get their table. The band started, it was now 7:15. We got an appetizer. Vivienne couldn't eat it fast enough. Dad goes to complain. Phil and I contemplate leaving without the folks because now we are so stressed out about dinner.
At 7:45 we finally get called to the table. We sit at 750pm and leave the restaurant by 8:50. We are home at 9:05. UNREAL. I have to admit, even with all the waiting and all the late dinner and all the hassle and how tired she was, etc....Vivienne did better than most kids on a 5 minute wait followed by a 15 minute dinner. She is such a good kid. A little whining, a little fussing, but never a breakdown. Never cried for real (fake crying is a charming quality) or screamed. I can't imagine any other kid doing so well. We are so very lucky.
All in all, dinner was ok. It was hard to enjoy it while coloring on a restroom paper towel with one hand and keeping an eye on an errant fork with the other. I would have much rather had a nice chicken sandwich from Chik Fil A and none of the hassle of a 4 hour dinner.

posted by Metalmeredith @ 9:26 PM