Going to mother's house

Have I told you all that I am leaving Friday to surprise my mother for her 70th birthday? It was all my sister's idea, which is strange and possibly very good, and I am finding I am getting more and more anxious about it as the date approaches.

First the background: my parents got divorced when I was seven and Sis was four or five. As far back as I can remember, my mother and sister did not get along well. I was the one through whom they communicated. I was the one who listened to each of them. The listening part never really stopped, although I did stop trying to help them understand each other.

The three of us have rarely been in the same place since Sis and I left home. I feel like I have a good relationship with each of them, but separately.

Two years ago we were all together. Mom, me, Andrew and Brian all flew out to the town where my sister lives. Mom and I stayed in a H*liday Inn. Sis came over with her brood (she had all three of her kids in between my two) and the kids all swam and ran around. My sister took us to a lake one day. Mostly we all had a pretty good time. A lot of the time was centered on the kids. I had time alone with my mom and alone with my sister. They had some time together without me, but not a lot. There was no time, however, when my mother, sister, and I were together without the kids.

I'm finding that I am getting very anxious as the date approaches. I don't know what it is going to be like.

It is surprising to me that my sister wanted this weekend. I wonder what expectations she might have about the weekend. I know my mother will be pleased to see us, actually I think she will be thrilled, but then what? What will we do for three days in that small town with no kids to demand our attention?

Will it be wonderful? Will it be tense? How much of each? What are we going to do?

So I'm tense.

I think I need to start a knitting project so that I will have something calming to do.