The mamas and the papas

Today, I met Cas' dad, whose name is also Cas.  I also met his stepmother Anne.  I liked that her name is spelled with an e at the end.  My middle name is Anne.  That's how it should be spelled.

I left the photography club meeting in my classroom early and got into my car, where I repaired my post-school day makeup before driving over to the El Fenix on Northwest Highway.  Cas Senior, Anne and my Cas were there already, but I beat Chad, Becky and Zoey to the restaurant.  I was worried that I would be there too late.  I also worried that I would be there too early.  I worried about a lot of things.  Turns out, there was no real need to worry.  Cas told me as he walked me to my car that they liked me.  That's a load off.  

I liked Dad and Anne a lot.  They were easygoing and pleasant, and they managed to allay my fears long before we even ordered our food.  

We stayed a while after the plates were cleared and talked.  Cas opened his birthday present from Dad and Anne- it was a pair of things with which he may begin participating in hurling.  It's an Irish sport.  I am not familiar, but apparently, this is something that they witnessed on their Ireland trip this summer.  I had to look it up.  There's a bat-type stick thing with a broad end and a baseball-looking ball.  The stick is called the hurley and the ball is called the sliotar.  I had to go check Wikipedia to get that straight and spell it correclty.  Cas briefly explained to me that the sport is a little like lacrosse.  Another website I checked compared hurling to field hockey.  

I got back to my house not too long ago, and dinner was a good time.  Two margaritas, a plate of enchiladas and a meet-the-family event was an unusual way for me to spend a Tuesday during the school year, but I am glad I got the chance.  Anne seemed to have a lot more in common with me than just the fact that both of our birth certificates have the necessary e at the end of the name Anne.  Cas Senior struck me as the kind of man who takes everything in stride, and I hope he approves of his son's choice in women.  

Oh- and everybody got a praline on the way out the door.  I've never had one before that I can remember.  I ate just a chunk of mine, and it feels sweeter than a spoon full of sugar.  

That's it, though,  I have met the mama and the papa.  I know the brother, the sister in law, the niece.  How very grown up of me.  

Now if you'll excuse me, I am going to go eat some more of my candy.