Chuck's mother is cronically late. I can't tell you how many dinners she ruined for us and how many occassions she tried her best to spoil. I honestly think she did and does this to get attention.

I guess I should have know when she had my family there for dinner when Chuck and I were first engaged. My mother is punctual to a fault and insisted we arrive on time, despite the delaying tactics we tried. When we got there, Chuck's mother was in a bathrobe with her hair in curlers and dinnner wasn't even started cooking. My mother's never forgotten or understood. I've learned to live with it, but I don't like it. At 91, she isn't likely to change.

However, if I had a friend who did kept me waiting like that without a reason more than once, that person probably wouldn't get another chance.