I always hear people say that their mothers are the best mom's on the planet. The difference when I make the same statement is that it is the complete, god honest truth. I knew this for certain when we were driving to Sacramento from San Francisco.

After being gone for 7 months it was good to know that some things never change. My mom and I had just spent about 6 minutes too long in the drive through line at the Starbuck's in Vallejo when we paused a moment to find space for our Venti Coffee Frappuccinos. I cannot describe precisely what it was that my mom did, and I believe it was her mannerisms. The "trying to find a place to put something in a very small sports car that has all the stuff in it that I might need in Sacramento or my flat in Oakland or if i get taken away by aliens I want to make sure I have my curling iron" thought process was absolutely hilarious. And by the look on my face, she knew, that I knew her terrible little secret.

She is, and has been for a number of years now, trying to "simplify" her life. A sort of pruning of the belongings if you will. This idea was of course ridiculous from the get go. The sports car is one glaring example of how silly the whole thing is. The woman, and i love her dearly, got the car on the false premise that having a smaller car would mean less "crap" as she so eloquently puts it. As I have described recently she has made it into her personal "fight terrorism" kit. (Did I mention that when they(the terrorist types) attack she also has a stylish getaway vehicle.

Point being, when we exchanged the look while trying to find long ago non-existent cup holders for our cold coffee drinks, we both cracked up laughing because we know what the problem is. We know and can laugh together because I also make my vehicle into my escape car.