Party Favors

During one of my parent's brief visits into the city, my mother surprised me with a much needed treat. Sitting at my kitchen table talking about how good the christmas trees still look, she spotted a cut on my finger that I told her I had gotten while 'out' the weekend before. Suddenly, she lunged for her purse and began riffling through. "Wait, I've got something for you. This should make you very happy". Shortly thereafter, she pulled out:


Was my mom giving me hard core drugs? Had she resorted to dealing in order to save up some money for retirement? Why was my dad just sitting there calmly like nothing strange was happening before his eyes?

'Go ahead,' my mother suggested, 'try it.'

My heart was thumping a mile a minute. I looked closely at the small vial sitting in front of me. I looked through the brown glass that comes only from a cheap recycling processes and into ... wait ... into emptiness? No, into liquid? Now, I was really confused. Confused, that is, until my mom continued, "It's essential oils! I've been taking classes. Rub two drops on your finger and you'll feel better almost immediately!" She was very proud of herself ... and continued, "I mixed up little bottles - aren't they cute? I got them on the internet for 50 cents each - for all of the ladies at work. They just sit there all day and hold them by their nose to smell the lavender oil I gave them. It's supposed to calm them."

I sat there, my jaw hanging out, trying to picture my mother's work buddies sitting at their desks, pulling out little brown vials from their purses, and snorting. I looked over at my dad. True to form, he was just sitting there - quietly shaking his head back and forth.

Um, thanks mom. ... and it actually did make my finger feel better, btw.