Friday, September 15, 2006

reclaiming girlhood (just for a few hours)

Picture this if you will - a big yellow room with two comfy couches, and lots of pillows. There is not a Lego brick in sight. "Bette Davis Eyes" is playing softly in the background. Someone with a bad sense of humour has put up posters of Wham and Kim Wilde. On the coffee table are two empty dessert bowls - remnants of ice cream cake still smeared around the edges. A platter of crackers, cheese, dips and fruit sits waiting to be devoured.

Two thirty-something mothers (with 4 kids between them) are lounging languidly on the couches, discussing topics ranging from travel to teething.They have watched a DVD of a recent 'chick flick'. When they can stop giggling about Fatty's latest birdwatching quote ("The channel-billed cuckoo is what I really want to see") and Ocker's desire for daily sex (ha-ha! double HA!), they will switch the TV on again to watch "Pretty in Pink". Or perhaps "Sixteen Candles". It doesn't really matter what it is, although having Molly Ringwald in the movie is guaranteed to make these mothers feel teenaged again. Grey hairs, wrinkles and all.

I've been looking forward to this night with Belly all week. The very thought of this evening has kept me smiling through tantrums, tears and ferocious messes. I've been unusually serene at work (even the lady who presented me with an 11-page handout listing her daily symptoms over a 4 week period did not disturb my equanimity). And providing our children's good health prevails, Belly and I will be there, on those couches, in less than 12 hours.

'Celebrate good times.....c'mon!'

11 comments:

Heather said...

Have fun, Jelly! I love Sixteen Candles! This Texas gal will be there with you in spirit!

John Cowart said...

Oh WOW! A channel-billed cuckoo! Wow!

Whats' a Molly Whatdoyoucallit, another bird?

Seriously, we all relax and renew our strength in our own ways. Glad you have one that works for you.

Motherkitty said...

You can tell John Cowart is not a teenager at heart because he doesn't know who Molly Ringwald is! (Maybe he does and is just pulling your leg.)

Hope you and Belly have a great time. Eat, drink, and be merry. Just watched Muriel's Wedding again last night and was enchanted by ABBA and Dancing Queen.

TUFFENUF said...

By now, you are having the time of your life - because it is already tomorrow there. What does the future bring? A good time! Have fun - Jelly & Belly. (hey jellybelly is candy isn't it?)

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...

Have fun and enjoy yourselves!

Val said...

That sounds like FUN! Although at my age I would think of different actresses from my teenaged years, eg, Sandra Dee. I have heard the name Molly Ringwald though!

rel said...

Jelly,
Sounds like a delicious, delightful step back in time. When just thinking about it can recharge your batteries, I can only imagine what fun you two will have!
rel

Michelle said...

Hope you had a FANTASTIC night!!!!!!!

thisisme said...

I hope you had a fantastic night - sounds like it would have been great fun. My movie choice would have been The Breakfast Club

Franny said...

I know what you mean! Whatever did you do with the kids???

Kerri said...

Ah, "Pretty in Pink" was a fun movie :) It doesn't matter how old we are, something like that can take us back to time 'when the world was young', or we were, or something.....
Anyway, it's fun. Hope you enjoyed your little escape Jelly.
Goes off humming, "She's got Bette Davis eyes".....