Of course, Mother’s Day pales in comparison to that more grand even: Father’s Day. We will forget about today’s story of the ravages of Mother Nature and such infamous characters as Ma Parker. After all, without mothers, there would be no Father’s Day.
My mother Angela Turley is still flourishing in Chicago and is the light of my life. My daughter Madie was born on her birthday and has the same spunky spirit. At 82, she is currently in her bed after dancing salsa all night with Argentine friends. She does understand why she is so tired this morning.
It is a day worth acknowledgment and celebration. I am busy making grits and eggs for “she who must be obeyed.” Leslie is the least high maintenance Mom in the world. Just eggs and grits and a Starbucks is what she views as a perfect Mother’s Day (the four kids and I will try to expand on that list).
I bought some great North Carolina grits at a restaurant that I heartily recommend to any Turley bloggers in North Carolina. It is Parker and Otis located at 112 South Duke Street, Durham, NC. The place is housed in a former tobacco warehouse and is run by a couple that knows good food and service. Jennings Brody used to work for Williams Sonoma and worked in the gourmet food industry before opening the place a few years ago with her husband.
I go there when we visit my in-laws in Durham and recently had a grits emergency. We went on a Friday only to find that grits were not on the menu for that day. When we came back on Saturday, I was crushed to learn that they had run out. Seeing my shattered demeanor, Brody (who I had never met and did not know me from Adam) immediately came over and said breakfast was on her. I had the chance to speak with her and I was amazed at their success in this economy — an example of how quality still drives business in some non-banking industry. The place is also candy mecca for kids (which is why our kids love the place). For those slobs in the area that forgot Mother’s Day, take your wives to Parker and Otis and say it was part of the plan all along. Brody is saavy enough to cover for you and say that your table is waiting.
Happy Mother’s Day to All!