Wednesday, February 14, 2007

lowlights and highlights

Everyone feeling all hearts-and-flowery today..?
Nah, me neither.
I'm finding it difficult to write a post this week. Not for lack of stuff going on in my head, mind you. I just don't feel like talking about it. Well, maybe just a little.
I'm p*ssed off with someone for being selfish and thoughtless but since it doesn't affect me directly and also because it's someone I swore off speaking to or interacting with a long time ago, there's nothing I can do about it so what's the point. All I can do is be there for the people whose lives this person's decision does directly affect. It doesn't stop me from feeling p*ssed off, but I'll get over it.
Perhaps I'll tell you about my weekend, instead...
On Saturday I went to The Point theatre to see a musical called Mamma Mia. The show was, in a word, brilliant! In it's simplest form, it is a love story. It is funny, and poignant, and highly entertaining. The singing and dancing are excellent and the characters are believable and likeable. Best of all, the music is that of one of the best-loved bands of all time: ABBA. The story has nothing to do with the band but their songs have been cleverly woven into the tale. If you get the chance, go see it! I was hoping to get tickets for my friend and young Cinderella for this weekend, as my buddy is driving up to visit us, but it seems the tickets are all sold out. I'm not surprised.
I went with six other women: we were six South Africans and one Irishwman in total. This, in itself, was entertaining... picture a gaggle of women all out for the day sans husbands and kids; a rare occasion indeed. I was a sort of tag-along, invited by a South African woman I met a couple of years back, in Ireland. The rest of the women appear to have known each other for some time. They are ALL mothers, first and foremost. Two are about 7 months pregnant. There was a lot of conversation about husbands, breast-feeding, labour, pregnancy, nappies (diapers) and all the other charming stuff that you'd expect when a group of such women get together.
And then there was me.
"So Terri, do you have children?" they asked.
"Er, none of my own, no.."
This seemed to stump them, as if they weren't quite sure what to do with me after that. Who was this woman? Some sort of alien? Perhaps they were afraid to ask me why, in case I had some deep dark tragic medical secret that I'd suddenly blurt out and ruin the happy, almost prison-escapee-freedom mood of the day.
My friend placated them by telling them I have step-children. They relaxed then, safe in the knowledge that there wasn't a spy in their midst.
I've had more stimulating conversations with pot-plants...
Nonetheless, I'm glad I went because the show was a treat and I guess the women were really quite nice and I had some laughs, too. In fact I would probably do it again.

So anyway... Happy Valentines Day, my little blog buds!

~T

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Baby bores. Ugh. It's virtually impossible for a group of new - or newish - parents to discuss anything other than their spawn (and bodily functions).

Brigitte said...

Happy Happy to you too!! I have only heard good things about that show "Mamma Mia", but sadly have not seen it yet. Glad you enjoyed it - despite all the baby babble. LOL!

Anonymous said...

I understand your point on the whole mommy discussions. When I get together with a bunch of ladies, the last thing I want to do is discuss the kids and babies. It's sort of missing the point of getting AWAY from home for a bit. What's wrong with having a couple of drinks, enjoying some good music, playing some pool and dancing on the tables???

Terri said...

Kyknoord - New parents should come with warning labels: "Extended exposure could seriously harm your will to ever procreate"
Present company excluded, of course...

Spookie - The good stuff you heard is all true

Buddess - I MISS MY FRIENDS!!!

anne said...

Oh yeah. And let's not forget the whole "tick-tock" discussion as well, like my biological clock is a time-bomb. Thankfully, my name starts with an A: f it goes off, I'm taking the whole neighborhood with me.

DelBoy said...

Lucky us guys don't have the same problem. If we started discussing our kids on a boys' night out, we'd probably get tarred and feathered!

Terri said...

Anne - You'd be going out with a bang then, yes?

Del - Yes I can sort of see how swapping baby pictures and crushing beer cans don't really fit together all that well ;)

Anonymous said...

Not half as much as we miss you!!! Hopefully we will get a nice visit in we you come over in July (my birthday hint hint!!!)

Terri said...

Excellent, Buddess! I'll see if I can bring you a leprachaun ;)

AngelConradie said...

oh i can so relate to the whole "not fitting in with other parents" thing... i recently attended a 3 year old's birthday party, with my 15 year old son in tow since they're friends of his too. and i was surrounded by moms with babies and three year olds. if i tried to say anything about raising babies i'd sorta get a loooong look an "uh huh" and then they'd continue chatting. i spent the day taking pictures.