Being on vacation this week, I had the opportunity to sit in on Mrs. Leslie's regular Friday night winefest at one of several chain restauants. This week's happened to be at O'Charley's, the same venue where I had my early November Leslie foray. I now have one visit in each mode. The first was great, but this one was pretty good, too.
Mrs. L's best friend called in the early afternoon to set things up. They discussed whether I would be welcome to join the group. I called out that I wanted to be an honorary girl for the evening. Much laughter. I was in.
I had a lot of material prepared, like saying that my denim skirt was in the dirty laundry, so I had to go with shorts, or that the late notice didn't give me time to epilate. That sort of nonsense. I wound up using none of it, but I was gregarious and quick with the witty one-liners. I curled my lashes before going, and almost wore a sports bra (too damn hot), and I had lip gloss in my pocket that I was prepared to whip out and use judiciously if the chance arose. Sadly, no.
The link with these girlfriends is children with autism, so always much discussion about school issues and therapy and legal battles. I would have preferred more standard girl talk, but they don't ever do much of that. I tried to stay engaged, but I was seated directly beneath a big TV (that's television, people) that was showing the Reds game. No cable at home, so I normally only get the radio version, ergo a stiff neck from watching my favorite team while trying to keep track of the table conversation. Not couth at all, and certainly not ladylike.
I enjoyed myself and felt welcome, and my mood is significantly brighter now. It's nice to be part of a hen party, even if mistakenly viewed as a rooster.
Musings: It's All About Community
5 hours ago
That's brilliant! Settling into stealth-girl mode with a group of unknowing women is so rewarding!
ReplyDeleteStandard girl talk? Maybe you could elaborate on that, because I don't think that happens around me. Maybe I don't have standard girl friends. ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou would have preferred to gossip about husbands and sex lives? :D
ReplyDeleteEnjoying their company, feeling welcome.. so much of our happiness is our attitude to what we are doing, not how we are attired when we are doing it. Thanks for this cheery post, Leslie.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of the above! I lived decades amongst a group as honorary girl and I guess it helped keep me alive. I would never have got a sore neck!
ReplyDeleteCaroline xxx
Years ago, a couple that I knew liked to throw parties at their house on the weekend. It got to be a pretty regular event once or twice a month for several years. The guys would always gravitate to the den, where games of darts, or Foosball would be played, and the women would hang out around the kitchen table and talk. The conversation in the kitchen was always much more interesting and enjoyable, and I would invariably find myself sitting at the table with the women for a good portion of the night.
ReplyDeleteI've always thought televisions in restaurants, were an annoying distraction. When I retired, my boss took me and my group to a sports bar for lunch. In every direction I looked, there was a huge wide screen TV tuned to ESPN, staring me in the face. It was horrible.
Melissa XX
Sounds like a fun time. And good luck to your Reds, they are having a great season so far :)
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is that I have always, going back to my childhood, felt much more comfortable with a group of women than with a group of men. With men, I feel totally out of place and always have.
ReplyDelete