This may be the last Conversations With Teenagers post, as #1 Son will no longer be one come July. Dare I hope we will then move to something like Conversations With Adults?
sound of ringing phone…
Mom: Hello?
#1 Son: Hi, Mom. Say… I’ve got almost enough for that ticket to Europe and I really, really need to buy it and can you just front me a little bit so I can get that taken care of? Please? Please?
Mom [sigh]: OK.
#1 Son: Great! I need a round-trip from here to Frankfurt. I need to be there by this date, and come back after that date. I’ve looked online, and SiteX was the cheapest.
Mom: Let me look. OK. No. It looks like SiteY is cheaper today. Are you sure you are flying in and out of Frankfurt?
#1 Son: Yes. Frankfurt.
Mom: Your first show is in Stuttgart and the last is in Denmark. Are you sure Frankfurt?
#1 Son: YES. Frankfurt.
Mom: OK. [finger poised above mouse, cursor hovering over book button] How are you getting to Stuttgart?
#1 Son [after long pause]: I’ll call you right back.
Mom: OK. [cancels ticket purchase]
sound of ringing phone…
Mom: Hello?
#1 Son: Hey, it’s Munich. That’s where I need to go. The guy that’s releasing the record in Europe lives in Munich and he’s picking us up at the airport.
Mom: Ah. Munich is different than Frankfurt. Will he get you back to Munich after the last show?
#1 Son: We’ll figure it out. I’m sure he will.
Mom: OK. Well, I’m looking online and it looks like there are several choices. You can fly though Chicago or Philadelphia or Charlotte. Any idea what flights the other guys are on?
#1 Son [after long pause]: I’ll call you right back.
Mom: OK. [cancels ticket purchase]
sound of ringing phone…
Mom: Hello?
#1 Son: Hey. Go out to our band email account and log in. Drummer Boy’s itinerary is in an email. Can you get me on the same flights going over? The others are staying longer after the tour, so I’ll probably have to fly back by myself.
I could, and I did. #1 Son is sitting next to Drummer Boy on the first leg, and behind him on the second. See what you can do with a little information? And what, I ask you gentle reader, would punk rockers ever do without their moms?
Happy Mother’s Day to all of you.
