Heaven Help Us All

Blogital Daughter vanishes again... Isn't it just the way it always goes? Hubby finally returns to work, I get back on my writing track for a week, only to be interrupted again.

What's my excuse, this time?

Well, my mother-in-law is expected to arrive in Stuttgart, Saturday afternoon, for an indeterminate length of time. Maybe a week. Probably just until she causes enough trouble to instigate another blow-out between her and my husband.

She's coming from Greece, where she lives, to say goodbye. While I have the utmost sympathy for her grief that her oldest son and his family are moving to America--I really do, I understand the separation issue all too well--I have no doubt she is going to be selfish about it and manipulate the issue to be entirely about her. It's just her way. After talking to his mother yesterday, my husband called me from work and said, "My mom's really sad. And now I am, too."

I don't think she'll persuade him to stay here, but the danger is there. It's right and natural that he should feel anxiety and grief about leaving. But we can't stay because of her, can we? The last time she stayed with us, they had an explosive argument. This is nothing unusual. It happens every time. At the end of that argument, my husband took me aside and said, "I really hope this America thing works out. We have to get out of here."

And besides, there are two other brothers left in Germany, and the youngest of them has a set of twins, not yet a year old. The middle brother is newly engaged, though my M-i-L doesn't know it yet.

In some ways, I'm more relaxed about this visit of hers because it's the last here in Germany, and her next visit will be on MY turf. But I'm a little nervous, as well, because while her inevitable theatrics will probably solidfy my husband's decision to go through with the move, she might play her cards just right (unlikely, but still a possibility) to influence him just enough.

So, that's what we're in for beginning Saturday afternoon. After today, I probably won't be around much until she leaves again. Check the sky periodically for SOS smoke signals, then send help immediately.