on the advantages of being an adult...part 1

Some time ago Mom and I had gone out to dinner, I don't recall where, and I sat staring blankly at the menu.  After watching several trays of food go by I still couldn't decide what I wanted.  Then I saw a dessert tray go by.  I got excited.  I quickly flipped to the section of the menu that listed the desserts.  I know the drool had to be obvious.  I picked what I wanted then flipped back to the regular menu to find something small to have before my dessert.  I still couldn't find anything that appealed to me.  After flipping back and forth and having the server come back twice Mom asked me what I was trying to decide from.  I told her all I really wanted was the dessert and nothing else looked real good.  She then said three words that I will never forget, "So order dessert."

O.o  "I CAN DO THAT!?!?!"  And in the most matter-of-fact, non-mocking tone she replies, "Of coarse!  It's one of the advantages of being an adult."

Those three little words have stayed with me and served me well over the years.  I feel it's an homage to the many years of not listening the the advice of those more experienced and wiser than myself.  It's a declaration to the world that I am an adult and I will not bow down to the constraints of social norms.  It's an exercise of free will.  As a matter of fact I'm pretty sure it's in the constitution, in the very small print, on the back side, just off to the edge.

So, after a more grueling than normal week hubby takes me out to dinner to Carrabba's.  We do our usual look over the menu and do our version of Abbott and Costello "Do you want an appetizer?"  "Well, do YOU want an appetizer?"  "How hungry are you?"  etc.  So as always, I'm debating over which dessert to enjoy.  I tend to worry the tiramsu is from a large sheet that is thawing in the refrigerator next to the peeled garlic and sliced onions so I decide to go with the limoncello bread pudding.  Just below the description it says "Be sure to order early since this takes 20 minutes to make!"  Ooo promising.  Enter waiter, stage left.

ME: I'd like the limoncello bread pudding.

WAITER: Ah, good choice ma'am.  And for-

ME: I'd like that for my dinner please.

WAITER: (slightly nervous laugh)  Um...ok then!  Excellent choice!  I'll be sure to put that in to come out with the entrée.  (slightly less nervous laugh but a rather obvious "she's either crazy or pregnant" smile)

Hubby had the lobster ravioli.  He did enjoy that.  Between the 2 orders of bread, side salad and calamari appetizer it was just enough to leave room for him to try a few bites of my "dinner".  Sadly mine was a little disappointing. I had hoped for a little more lemony flavor.  It will NOT be making my list of "things I would gladly cause bodily harm to another in order to have/do" list.  I won't even begin to compare it to the decadent, slap yo' mama, make a puppy pull a freight train backwards, zabaglione at Mom and my's favorite Italian restaurant (pictures to come soon).

So, the moral of the story?  Know what it is you really, truly want, then go for it.