This morning I woke up to my mom's classic Head Sticking Through Ajar Door Wake-up Stare. I could be in the deepest REM dream-state and in some core place in my being know that my mom is staring me into consciousness. I know, I know...lock the damn door. Doesn't matter. Her stare shoots straight through wood, steel, and cement. It's, actually, come to think of it, a magical power. I can't blame her for making noise, because she's silent. And, yet, when I open my eyes, there is that head, staring at me.

"Are you awake?" she asks.

"I am now."

"Oh, ok."

She continues to stand there and stare me more awake.

"Did Donuts cry?"

(Donuts is the cat who recently had a stroke and is now "crazy.")

"A little."

She still stands there.

"What are you going to do today?"

"I don't know...call Rebecca and Emily (my friends)."

"Well, there's frozen waffles in the refrigerator."

"Thanks Mom."

"Ok, bye."

I am never going back to sleep.

Just for today, I am spending the holidays with family.