I’m enjoying Mother’s Day weekend 2005 on mid-Atlantic coast with my hubby and our guests from Europe. We are having lunch in an outdoor restaurant. Sipping drinks. Live music. Sun is shining. Relaxed. Happy.

My cellphone rings. I don’t pick up. Our food arrives. Hubby’s cellphone rings. He doesn’t pick up. My cellphone rings again. I take out phone from my bag.  Adt…ADT! I open the flip.

This is ADT. Who am I talking to? What is your code?

I ramble my name and the code. Get it all correct.

We have an alarm event at you residence in Washigton D.C. Burglar alarm. Someone has entered the front door at 1:21:52 p.m.

Oh no! Nobody is at home. We are at the beach since yesterday afternoon!

We are sending the police right away. They should be there in a few minutes.

Thank you! Please keep me in the loop on what’s happening.

We will call you back once the police is there.

And I hang up. Shaking.  Angry. Not hungry.  I see our house being burglarized.

Then I see the red voice mail dot. I press to listen.

Alarm sound…Hi mom...more alarm sound…I drove up to surprise you for Mother’s Day….more alarm noise…I’ve forgotten the new code to disarm.…horrible alarm noise…Where are you guys? Call me!

I start to laugh. Hysterical. Relieved.

ADT calls again. Police on the way now. I tell them intruder is beloved son. In college in Florida. Finishing finals. Not supposed to come home until the following week. Forgot the new code.

I call son. Horrible noise. I shout the code. I shout again. Much louder. The guests around us stare. I shout even louder.  They all learn the code. 1226. Son presses buttons. Finally silence. And the police. I down all my wine.

Son doesn’t go to jail. The next day I have a wonderful Mother’s Day. Son lifts me up in the air. Bear hugs. I love bear hugs. The whole family together. Very happy.

Later I change the code. I pay the bill. False alarm. 15 dollars. It was worth it!

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms out there! May your day be wonderful!

Love always, Tiny