A few days after that, it was the Fourth of July. Fourth of July is a HUGE deal in my town. People come from all over and there’s a parade and a ton of booths with art and wine and beer and every type of food you could possibly ever imagine. If you go downtown that day, you can pretty much guarantee you’ll see everyone you’ve ever known.
So as a result, I didn’t want to go.
Back in February when I was still working, both my co-workers Lacy and McKenzie had urged me to download Taylor Swift’s 1989.
This did not sound like a thing I wanted to do.
“I’m telling you – it’s amazing. Perfect running music,” McKenzie had said with reverence.
Lacy had nodded in agreement. “It will change your life.”
“Fine,” I’d said. I downloaded and listened to it once.
“Not for me,” I’d declared the next day.
They both looked at me and shook their heads sadly as if to say, “She just doesn’t get it.”
“I don’t think we’re going to make it.”
This is what I wanted to respond to my friends when they’d check in to see how I was doing.
“How are you adjusting, love?” they’d ask.
“Is it wonderful to be home?!” they’d inquire.
“How is your Boyfriend?” they’d wonder.
“Do you miss New York?” “Have you found a job?” “How is The Cat?” “I miss you so much!!”
And all I could think to reply was:
“I don’t think we’re going to make it.”
But I never said that. Because I didn’t want anyone to worry about me.
“Okay. I have to stop you right there.”
“Yeah,” I said with a laugh. “I figured as much, Kanye.”
“I need a glass of wine for this.”
“Yeah, I figured that too.”
“Or a bottle,” she muttered.
I sighed. I’d just revealed to Tina that My Ex had come to visit.
And she was not happy.
“Why hasn’t anyone tried to puzzle-piece us yet??” Tara cried, as we collected our drinks at the bar.
I laughed. “Relax, we’ve only been here five minutes.”
She sighed.
“Now remember,” I instructed. “We’re undercover. No mention of the blog, okay? Undercover.”
“Undercover,” she repeated, nodding. “Right. No mention of the blog.”
Continue reading Jigsaw Puzzle Singles Event: Mother/Daughter Edition.
Not Quite A Cougar 