Like the Matron has All Day to Manage Someone Else's Life

The Matron suddenly has a part-time job caring for her mothe, whose hospitalization does not seem to be nearing an end.    Driving alone takes a new two hours out of her already impossible day.  

Given that the perpetually busy Matron (the job, the novels, the needy students, the family, the works, the near teen, the house, the man, the need to create art!, the volunteer work -- you get it!) is suddenly even busier -- AND -- given that her own psyche is being taxed, challenged, prodded and rolled due to her mother's illness (did you know that the Matron has a toddler living within her?) -- given all these complexities of her own wild and precious life, the Matron experienced the following with some bemusement.

She ran into an old high school acquaintanc, Adelle (so not her real name)  while tending to her mother in her hometown.  Seems that word of Scarlett's acting preceeded the Matron, via a proud, bedridden grandma.  

Adelle:  "I would never do that to my daughter."

Matron:  "What?"

Adelle:  "You know, push all that stuff on her at such a young age."

Matron:  "Push her?   She's entirely self-driven."

Adelle (with superiority and skepticism in perfect balance):  "Whenever any kid starts doing unusual, semiprofessional stuff at 7, there's a parent who has to make the phone calls, drive, organize and manage."

Matron:  "Same for play dates and soccer.   If your child wanted to be in Brownies, wouldn't you help her out?  But if your kid says 'sign me up for the stage' at seven, it's wrong to do that?"

Adelle:  "It's different.  I just think it's sad that people live through their children's accomplishments."  She shoots the Matron a knowing look.

Matron (deciding to jump conversational ship):  "Me too.   Oh!  My Mom's hemoragging.  Gotta run!  Ta-ta!"

The Matron has run into this attitude before and understands that some people will always see her negatively because yes, she helps  her daughter.   But live through her?  

Who runs the show that is Scarlett?   In a bit of serendipity, after the Matron returned home (post-Adelle) last night, Scarlett unveiled her new creation:  Love to Love Acting.   And requested that her mother link the daughter's blog on hers, as the child is not adverse to Audience.   Check out that first post, in which Scarlett proclaims:  "I live to act, sing and dance."  So there.  But Scarlett?  Stop with the commas!

Because Adelle works at the hospital, the Matron is certain to see her again.  Even though the Matron has Written Orders to be immediately executed should she wear a hat, button or t-shirt with one of her children's photograph on it (and that special message, like "Proud Mama of an honor student"), even so, she is tempted to  quickly construct garb with Stryker's photo and GPA so she can live through him, too, and give Adelle a LOT to talk about with the locals. 

No, the life the Matron is living is all her own.  And right now, that life is demanding and a little bit painful as the past forty-some years of a complex relationship play out around that hospital bed.    She hopes she can survive it.