where inga gets her snark

so my parents, ena and algie, came for a visit, most of which was spent in a 100 year old farm house on 90 acres of woods and meadows (certainly inga should win an award for best daughter ever!). the visit was fine. sure, it may have lasted one or five days too long, but ena and algie are great people. i can't think of anyone who would argue that.

my entire life, though, ena has often said things like "oh, inga! your tongue is too sharp! you are a wicked girl. where is this mean streak from?" or "inga! be nice when you talk about people. not everyone can be as pretty or as smart as you" or "inga! don't make fun of your brothers, they don't understand sarcasm!" ena is essentially a kind-hearted woman who, whenever i bust out with the snark, purses her lips together and shakes her head sadly, as though she is as golden as, say, mother theresa or pa ingalls.

so, imagine my surprise when, the other afternoon, after a day of shopping, she frowns at a woman crossing the street in front of her car. the woman is wearing a top and skirt of a lycra-like material in turquoise and white. the skirt has a slit up the side. the woman is wearing a black lace slip; we know because it peeks out from the slit. ena shakes her head.

"oh, look, her slip is showing," ena says, motioning with her head. "and my goodness, what a tacky skirt! did she even look in a mirror today?"

rock on, ena. i think we all know the apple does not fall far from the tree.