an instant thanksgiving classic

my parents are visiting from upstate ny for thanksgiving. they arrived yesterday evening and will leave on sunday morning. not a lot of time, but we'll cram in as many memories as we can - and boy did the cramming begin early this thanksgiving morning. we hadn't been up for an hour this morning when a knock came at the door. it was nanay boo (finally learned how to spell her name), one of my favorite neighbors. she was in her pajamas and came to borrow a ladder because she had locked herself out of the house. i tried to tell her that our six foot ladder would do her no good since she lives in a second floor apartment, but she took it anyway.

my parents, the cute ones from upstate ny - the ones who don't necessarily have a lot of experience with the likes of nanay boo - just smiled as nanay boo left and my mother remarked - "she is beautiful isn't she? does she have a job?" to which my father, without missing a beat, replied - "yeah, on the street." the best part was that his response was so matter-of-fact with no judgement attached - like he'd seen it a million times before!

soon nanay boo returned to give back the ladder - which didn't work - and asked if she could use the phone. the phone was to call 911 and tell the operator that she had locked herself out of her house and that her entire thanksgiving meal was on the stove and in the oven. she described in great detail the turkey, greens, and macaroni and cheese that would be the cause of an inferno that would soon engulf an entire city block should the fire department choose not to immediately respond. (of course there was no food because she was going to her mom's for dinner.) about five minutes later the sirens could be heard rounding the corner and i looked out the window to see the approaching hook and ladder - and nanay boo waiting ever-so-nonchalantly, cigarette in hand, on the front porch.

would i like to be a fly on the wall next friday when my parents go for their weekly dinner date with their lifelong neighbors and the neighbors ask - "so tell us all about your trip to dc!"