Diabetes Dinner Talk Between The Salad & Main Course.

Mom & I, the summer before I was diagnosed ~

Time: July 2011

Place: A restaurant along the back bay in a little Hamlet by the sea.

So I was having dinner with my mother the other night, and as we sat waiting for our dinner entrees to arrive we talked about work, the family, and how freaking hot it’s been this summer.

I was devouring my salad and was amazed with each bite how the combo of radicchio, shaved Parmesan, cherry tomatoes and sliced jalapenos were pulled together in a blanket of awesomeness when lime vinaigrette was added to the mix. Seriously, BEST. SALAD. EVER.

Then, like out of the blue my mom said:

Mom: Kelly, I’m really impressed with the way you take care of your diabetes.

Me: Ahhhh, thanks mom, but I’m still trying to figure it all & I need to do better in some areas. I have to get my A1C lower & exercise more.

Mom: I think you do a great job, I mean you're always testing and you watch what you eat and you have a good attitude.

I really wish your sister had been more like you with her diabetes.

Me: Thanks mom. But don’t blame Debbie, times were so different then - She didn’t have the diabetes tools that we have today. It was SO DIFFERENT.

Mom: I’m not blaming her, I just miss her so much! I can't believe I haven't seen her in 20 years - You know I think about her every single day. I miss her terribly.

Me: Yeah, I know you do. Me too.

Mom: I just think your doing a great job - keep it up.

Me: Thanks for saying that mom & I'll keep trying!

And then we smiled at one another & continued to pick (OK, I was engulfing, not picking) at our salads.

But I could feel my face start to get red and I starting blinking, so I excused myself and said I had to make a Ladies Room run.

I knew if I didn’t get up from the table right then I’d start to cry and I didn’t want to do that.

In the Ladies Room I looked in the mirror and saw my damn near beet red face staring back at me.

I was so happy with my mother's words, but a part me still felt like the 12 year old girl who's Peds Endo told her that that the numbers didn't lie and that she needed to do better. The same child who watched her sister get sicker and sicker from a disease we both shared. I didn't want the sadness of those memories to cloud my mothers words or how they made me feel.

So I blew my nose, splashed my face with water, put on some powder & lipstick and returned to the table.

Mom: Took you long enough - What'd you fall in?

Me: Yep, head first and ass over teacups.

Mom: That sounds like you!

Me: Yeah, I know... I'm my mother's daughter!

And then we laughed.

And then our entrees arrived and a wonderful meal was had by all.