Life as a single woman with two curious and verbally creative children (where did that come from? Hmm… I wonder) is a different experience on many levels.  And it can be either the most fun or the most humiliation known to a sometimes harried person such as myself.   Each outing is a potential encounter with the opposite gender and even the most benign encounters can get a wink or an eye roll from my 12 year old daughter.  This wasn’t always the case.  But middle school has enlightened her, shall we say?  I think that is the best way to put it.  And not to be outdone, my 5 year old son watches carefully and chimes in with his version of middle school humor and hijinks.

So here is a recent example.  An older gentleman works at my local deli and I am purchasing some lunch meat.  He asks:  “What can I get you, young lady?”  Big smile.  Pleasant demeanor.  Great for customer service.  He then offers me a sample of some cheese that all the patrons are being offered. Who can resist cheese?  This is like a high end Costco sample rolled in prosciutto.  Mmmm.  Salty.  I remark, “Oh that is good.”  My daughter winks at me.  I say, “Really?”  Under her breath she says, “Well, you never know”.

We leave without further incident.  In the car Eva slyly asks, “So did he ask you out?”  “What??  Over the Boar’s Head loaf?”   She continues, “So do you like him?”  Middle school must be teaching a course in persistence these days.  Nice trait.  I reply, “Based on what – our mutual love of boloney? So now we should be dating?”   Not that I am even dating.  Because when would I do that?  Well, apparently the cheese and pleasantries at the deli were a date!  In the back seat I hear them both giggling and whispering.   I cannot hear any of the details but I imagine it is hilarious!