by Vinny Knowles

Created on: November 13, 2008   Last Updated: November 18, 2008

I had been promising the kids a picnic at the lake for the longest time. Everything had happened to stop us from going. So one Friday afternoon, I answered their pleadings.

"Okay, no matter what happens, we will go on our picnic tomorrow!"

"You promise?" they chorused.

"Yep, no matter what, we are going to take that picnic basket, load it with goodies, and head to the lake tomorrow!" I said enthusiastically from my recliner.

I did not say this casually. My children know I don't make a promise and back down on it.

My 10 year old Teddy shouted "Yes!" (and pumped his arm for emphasis) as he headed to the garage to get the floats and inflatable raft. Sixteen year old Thomas meandered behind him to get his fishing tackle in order. And 8 year old Theresa, skipped to her room to hunt through her Barbie dolls to choose who would go and who would stay. Of course, the "going" dolls had to have bathing suits; the search went on for quite a while.

I forced myself to get up out of my nice cozy recliner and go to the pantry to get down the picnic basket. I popped some popcorn and bagged it up in baggies. I stuck some frozen cookies on some cookie sheets and put them in the oven (I do love those things! They make me feel like a real Martha Stewart.) I boiled some eggs and made egg salad. This was going to be a royal picnic lunch. I pulled a loaf of bread off the shelf and put it in the basket. Okay, that was a good start! I would put the finishing touches on the lunch in the morning. I headed back to the recliner.

"Mom," I heard from the bedroom. "I can't find Ken's bathing trunks. I think they may be at Janet's house."

"Ken can wear shorts at the lake. This is not the city pool. Swim suits aren't required." I replied casually. My answer was acceptable, and I was glad. No mother in her right mind would leave the house at 8:00 p.m. to drive across town to get swim trunks for a Ken doll.

I turned on the T.V. and kicked out the recliner.

Thomas moped through the living room with a gloomy look on his face. He grumbled as he walked past me, "I forgot that I loaned my favorite fishing rod to Sean."

I rolled my eyes at him. "He knows better than to ask me to go over there at this late hour to get it," I thought. I was right.

He looked at me and said eagerly, "You mind if I take the car and run over to Seans house? I promise I won't be gone long."

Even though I hated the thought of getting out of my recliner, a thought I hated even more was my inexperienced 16 year old heading out at 8:00 p.m.

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