How I met her mother

Bring whiskey

The first time I met Liz's mother, I was determined to leave a good impression. After flying into Buffalo and picking up a rental car, my nerves began fraying - I had no present yet for Anne.

Liz reassured me with a warm smile. 'Don't worry,' she insisted, 'we'll find something that will make a good impression.'

On our drive to Anne's house, Liz regaled me with tales of her mother and aunts' daily happy hour ritual. 'You'll see, Mom always asks what Sally and Aunt Dell would like to drink, even though she knows the answer,' Liz chuckled. "a bit of the brown" - Jim Beam.

The rental car muscled its way through Buffalo's traffic, which felt more akin to Dublin than Seattle.

As we rolled into the quaint town of East Aurora, Liz pointed out the liquor store up ahead and winked at me. 'We can't show up empty-handed,' she reminded me. Determined to find the perfect gift for her mother, I nodded in agreement.

I picked out a nice bottle of wine for Anne, but Liz insisted on a bottle of Jim Beam as well. Despite my hesitation— surely, we could get something better than Jim Beam. I'm not a fan of its sweetness—her knowing smile persuaded me.

The thought of presenting Anne with just alcohol nagged at me, conjuring up unwanted images of ‘drunken Irish’ stereotypes. I glanced at Liz, trying to mask my hesitation. 'Why don't we grab some flowers too?'

As we pulled into the supermarket parking lot, Liz pointed out the various shops and what was bought where. Federal Meats has the best beef.

We got a colorful bouquet, aiming for a blend of thoughtfulness and tradition.

Gifts in hand, we set off for the village of South Wales, six miles outside town. Liz fell silent, gazing out the window with a nostalgic smile tugging at her mouth.

'I used to bike this route all the time to see friends,' she reminisced, her voice taking on a wistful tone. 'It was my first taste of the open road.'

Her fond memories enveloped us as the quiet road meandered to a lovely enclave in the woods outside of the village. Liz's mother Anne welcomed us warmly into her home.

Handing her the flowers, I introduced myself, 'Hi Anne, I'm Michael, Liz's boyfriend. Wonderful to meet you.' Anne’s smile widened as she replied, 'Thank you, Michael, wonderful to meet you too' her happiness evident.

Anne led us to the screened porch, offering comfortable chairs. Excusing myself for a moment, I nipped out to the car to retrieve the drink.

When I returned with the grocery bag, I pulled out the bottle of wine first. Anne examined it intently, saying politely, 'Thank you, Michael' in a way that said she was trying to infer something from the choice of wine. My heart sank.

Desperately, I reached into the bag and brought out the Jim Beam.

Anne's eyes sparkled with unmistakable appreciation.

'This is wonderful, Michael! We were just about to run out,' she exclaimed.

Later, as Anne's sisters Sally and Dell arrived and settled into the living room with us, a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere enveloped the house.

Anne asked her familiar question, 'Sally, Dell, what would you like to drink?' After a brief pause, Sally replied with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, 'I think I'll have a bit of the brown, please.'

Dell's nod was swift, ‘I’ll have a bit of the brown too’ echoing Sally's request with a knowing smile as if there was any doubt.

When Anne mentioned the fresh bottle of Jim Beam I had brought, a chorus of delighted "Oh!" and laughter filled the room.

As Anne poured generous glasses of the amber liquid, we gathered for a chat filled with easy conversation, laughter, and shared memories.

With a conspiratorial lean towards Liz, Sally whispered loud enough for me to hear, 'I really hope you're going to hold on to this one.’

As the evening progressed, the initial knot of nervousness in my stomach gradually unwound, replaced by a growing ease. The laughter and shared stories enveloped me like a warm hug. I was on the pig’s back, ar mhuin na muice as we would say in Ireland.

It wasn't just about being accepted; it was about being embraced and welcomed into the fold as if I had always been a part of their lives. The realization brought a lump to my throat, and I found myself blinking back tears of joy and gratitude.