I didn’t get home until six in the morning Sunday night.
Well, Monday morning really.
I haven’t been out that late since my first year of college when
on those few delicious nights youth and alcohol and a sort of desire to be lit
on fire colored everything.
Sunday night was its own delicious something. Unexpected and
unplanned and a ride that once you were one, nearly impossible to get off.
There are some things that I believe each and every woman
should experience at least once in her lifetime.
This is a sampling of my list, to date:
1. Having a total stranger approach you in a bar.
And then placing the palm of his hand on the small of your back as he whispers
into your ear—in a thick French accent--just how beautiful you are.
2. Weathering a period so lacking in physical
intimacy that you take to getting hour-long massages in a room sectioned off
with bed curtains, just to remind your body that it is in fact a physical
thing. (This builds character).
3. Finding yourself one night, four in the morning,
on hour three of a karaoke bender with your best friend and six men you’ve
never before met, only to reach over and touch one of the men’s ankles and
realize oh, that’s a gun under his pant
leg.
It is about number three that I’d like to now say, no, they
were not part of the Russian mafia, of that I am quite sure. And it should be noted,
there have been few times in my life I’ve felt so safe.
But that's about it. That's all I can say. Mostly because I know almost nothing personal about any of the
them other than where they were born and raised and where they’re currently
living. If that.
And because given enough white wine I’ll say and do just
about anything, they know quite a bit about me. (I’ve been
known to vomit information). And yes, okay, there was a moment I emptied all of
the contents of my purse onto the table. But in my defense, they asked. The items
included the book How to Be a Woman (they
were unclear as to why I’d need such a thing), my wallet, a postcard and some
things I'd best not disclose here. (Absolute class, don’t ever let it be said that I’m anything less).
I was then informed that you’re never meant to reveal any of this stuff and
didn’t I know that? Damn.
I’m quite sure I even handed over my license.
But you know, I wouldn’t have done it any differently. I
wouldn’t have changed the hour I finally opened the door to my apartment, or
any one of the many, many songs that I shouted across the room toward the scrolling
words. I wouldn’t have changed my poor attempts at flirting or the occasional
filth that flew from my mouth. Because those things happen so rarely and it was
nice to remember that yes, in fact, I’m that woman too. That woman is always somewhere, at any given moment, within me, within reach.
11 comments:
Meg, I really think we might be soul mates. I have a strikingly similar list - strikingly.
and I should be venturing your way next week some time if you'd like to grab that cup of coffee that has been so eluding us.
With so little details you still know how to get a story across beautifully. I feel like I was right there with you.
And a gun?! I got butterflies of nervousness reading that. Glad you felt safe though.. (but seriously were they mafia?) :)
wow! what a night! i'm kind of a homebody... so i know what you mean, nights like this every once in a while are much needed!
xx, kara
the rarer those nights, the better each one feels. Although, I want to know more!
my heart is pounding. maybe it was the gun that did it. but also, the way you capture womanhood...
Whoo! So much life! I have a few stories of my own...
Meg, the next time I'm in NYC, let's get coffee? Better yet, I'm studying in England this fall- come visit? Catch a flight, and I'll give you a place to stay!
O to travel Europe with you- that'll be a dream I hope never to awaken from... yeah
"Live to the point of tears."-Camus
I have to admit that I don't understand some of the things in this post very well. Perhaps it's because I'm a guy.
I'm glad to hear that you felt safe knowing that someone in your party was armed. A lot of people are skittish about that sort of thing. I think that most people can pretty quickly judge a person's character, and as long as the person is trustworthy, being armed should be a comfort. It's the weirdos you have to watch out for.
But I kind of get the feeling that this post wasn't really about the gun, but rather about how comfortable you felt, and how willing you were to divulge information about yourself. Again, the gun thing was kind of jarring, so I think maybe I focused on that.
Anyway, good post. :)
LOVE this post. Indeed, every girl needs a night where inhibitions don't exist, and so what if you emptied your purse and totally pulled a Breakfast Club move. They're Russian-probably never even seen the movie. good job, happy to read this.
this sounds so nice. and Amanda was right, everyone needs a night of no inhibitions. and a night where you don't get home until 6 am. ha. i'm glad you got everything you needed that night.
Those nights are proof of a fully lived, vibrant life... a moment of letting yourself go for just a night. Liberating. I'm a firm believer that a mixture of class and edge can make for one of the best marriages in self.
I certainly hope that my daughter is free enough to let herself experience those nights every once and a while when she is older. :-)
Sounds like a winning night to me :)
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