Dotty
Etta and I crashed a super fancy party, down at the Ritz. The tickets were two hundred dollars, but we slipped right in.
The shrimp was fabulous, the open bar was massive and the champagne was positively the best I’ve ever had!
We ran into that uppity Marcy. You should have seen the expression on her face! She cooed over my shoes. Don’t tell her, I bought them at a secondhand store. We were having the time of our lives when my X, Rick, walked in with that over-stuffed floozy Sweetums and wrecked it all!
And now we’re stuck hiding behind a tree! And, we need help getting out of here. Could you text Rick and tell him that he has an urgent phone call in the lobby?
Sandy (the therapist)
My patient, Ms X wants me to solve her problems for her.
My job is to help my clients come to a place of resolution and action. I’m here to empower them—not baby them or get involved. I’ll text a note of encouragement.
Dotty
Mom, I need a new therapist! Sandy sent me this text: “Dotty, you are a big girl! You can solve your own problems!”
Why does she think I have a shrink?
Mom, I’m counting on you to do Sandy’s job for her. Could you please text Rick and tell him his house is on fire and he better go home!
Dotty’s Mom
Dotty you know I can’t do that! …I could however ask him over for dinner. I’m making his favorite casserole.
MOM’S Chicken Casserole
6 to 8 chicken breasts (no bones / no skin)
One jar dried chipped beef
1.8oz package of Philadelphia Cream Cheese
½ pint sour cream
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
8 strips of bacon
Mix sour cream / cream cheese / and cream of mushroom soup in bowl set aside
Wrap chicken breasts in bacon
Pour ½ mixture over the chicken
Cover with dried chipped beef and cover with remaining sauce
Bake covered at 325 for 30 minutes then uncover and bake 30 minutes more
Dotty
Mother, are you nuts? I need you to get rid of Rick not entertain him.
Dotty’s Mom
Dotty get out from behind that tree and come home. Sometimes, life gives us uncomfortable situations. You can’t just duck and run. You have to stand up and face problems head on. When you do, you gain the respect of others and yourself too.
Now crawl out from behind that tree and come home.
Dotty
Are you crazy? Etta and I will never live this down!
Everyone knows self-respect comes from putting up a good façade. It’s all about image, like these designer shoes. I don’t want people to know I paid 4 bucks for them and I don’t want them to know we crashed this party either.
Etta and I are taking this tree home with us. She’ll push and I’ll pull.
Pockets
Be on the lookout for a shrubbery walking down the street. If you see it, please don’t hike on it. It most likely contains my human.
