Eating at Dot's

After leaving Jiminy Peak, we headed to Wilmington, Vermont to meet my family at Dot's Restaurant. No surprise,I got there early and we found a place to park in a free lot down the street. I gave our name at the door and told them it would be nine of us. Shortly after a man from the restaurant informed me that we couldn't have a table for nine but eight was ok. I told him we would figure it out.
Mom and Martha got there next. Mom hugged me hard and clung to me whispering how much she loved me and kissing my cheek repeatedly. It was almost an automatic reflex to push her away, but I tampered it down and just gently extracted myself. She couldn't believe how much weight I'd lost and I replied, "I would have told you more about it but you always talk about how much you have lost". She looked hurt and I felt mean. That's us in a nutshell. She clings and I want to run, but ultimately it's all about Mom.
Don and Nancy got there next and Nancy wanted to hug her thin sister. Man that felt and sounded so good. Kathy and Dakota arrived last and the nine of us settled into our table for eight. Dot's is a little hole in the wall with good homemade food and good service, but there isn't a lot of room. The waitress quickly got our orders (they probably wanted us out) and the man grumbled every time he looked at us, but we made due with our cramped space. Mom opened a few belated birthday presents and soon the food came. After we ate, we all got dessert and the staff and sang Happy Birthday to Mom with us. It was fun and the cake was good. Sam finished everyone's leftovers. After visiting a while longer, we all exited.
This time when hugging Mom goodbye I didn't give her a chance to cling or weep. I gave everyone a hug and when hugging Martha I told her how much I loved her and to myself I hoped that she would find strength, health and happiness.
Today I found joy in seeing my family, giving my gifts and a really awesome piece of chocolate cake.