It’s five o’clock somewhere
Posted by Toni Johnson on Wednesday Apr 7, 2010Under Toni, friendship, musings, self discovery
What do you get when you mix one pitcher of margaritas, chips and salsa, and five women (plus a couple of miniature women in training) sitting ’round the table with no men in sight? A whole bunch of laughter, that’s what! My friend called one Saturday afternoon to organize a spur of the moment, women only, get together for a little later in the day. I can’t even begin to tell you what all we talked about, but there was a lot of laughter going on … and something about naked laundry day … hmm.
Now you might not be able to tell this about me, but I’m a rather quiet and reserved person until I get to know you, then look out! I knew two of the ladies at our get together, but two were new to me. In a group situation, until I’m comfortable with a new person, I prefer to sit back and observe, relying on the other people to carry on the conversation. You can learn a lot about a person by sitting back and watching. Of course that makes it harder for the other person to get to know me initally, unless they make the effort to ask me some questions. That also tells me something about the other person, whether they make that effort or not. If I’m one on one with a person, then of course I make conversation, quizzing them down to learn what I can about them … silence can be kind of awkward if I don’t, you know?
One thing that stands out in our roundtable conversation was how many women we know that are on a “journey of discovery”. Women who are experiencing divorce after decades of marriage and learning how to live alone. Women who are experiencing job loss for the first time. Women who are experiencing strength and courage, hidden deep within themselves for amost 20 years — drawing upon the courage to change the path down which they started when they were just barely a teenager. Women who are finding that they just might love their husbands after all. Sometimes you need to have a conversation with yourself … after you’ve sat back and objectively observed your own life for a while. You can learn a lot about yourself that way … this I know from experience.
We were sitting out on the deck finishing our second (or third) pitcher of margaritas with night upon us and the evening winding down. There was a chill in the air and the buzzing of mosquitos all around us, but we still didn’t want to let the evening end, even though we kept saying we needed to go home. And then my friend’s husband returned home — party over … after he served us some ice cream sundaes and joined us in a little conversation himself (I think he’s a keeper). I think we can safely say, though, “a good time was had by all.”
I just wish I could remember what “naked laundry day” was all about …
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April 7th, 2010 at 1:06 am
My first response was “And you didn’t invite ME?????”
Seriously, Toni, I’m guessing we all can relate to such get-togethers that remind us we’re not alone and not stupid! Well, maybe we’re stupid but we’ve all been there. We all know what it’s like to wonder about where we are and where we’re going. We’re lucky if we have a place where we can talk about it with someone else…with margaritas and ice-cream sundaes! I love the way you wrote this…and I love the colorful image. Did you already lick off all the salt?
April 7th, 2010 at 5:18 am
I love those girl-get-together’s, I am in a group of 6 who go away for a long weekend once a year. Lovely post!
April 7th, 2010 at 6:08 am
What a cheery, bright, and totally FUN image! Love it!!! (I’m assuming you shot it early in the evening and planned the intriguing shallow focus! *grin*)
Since I’ve moved, I’ve missed some of that girl only time. But, one by one I am meeting some new friends. I’ll have some girl time soon, I hope.
April 7th, 2010 at 6:16 am
It’s amazing how ‘universal’ our stories are..and how so many of us share the same experiences on our individual journeys. Love the colors in the image. Such fun!!!
April 7th, 2010 at 8:20 am
What a great post and beautiful image, Toni! I can relate to your being the one sitting and watching… I’m a bit reserved too… initially. Then I open up, especially with the help of a margarita!
April 7th, 2010 at 8:47 am
Pretty picture with nice colors. I don’t often get together with others for conversation like that, but usually to play games, go on a hike, or do something else. Usually the conversation does start to flow after a while, though. Funny how these get-togethers always have one memorable statement or discussion that all involved laugh about for quite a while to come — like the naked laundry.
April 7th, 2010 at 9:13 am
those are the best of times to be sure. i lunch and learn with a group of women every wednesday and our one hour lunch before our two hour torah class can sometimes be more inspiring!! great photo toni.
April 7th, 2010 at 9:44 am
I love to have a girls’ night out. When our kids were small, 4 of us used to go on an annual Christmas shopping extravaganza. We’d shop all day, go to a hotel and visit until all hours, and wrap our presents, then finish our shopping the next day. It was so much fun and we got our shopping and wrapping done at the same time. What a treat!
April 7th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
This is a wonderful post Toni and a lovely photo as well. Thanks for sharing your gift of a girl’s only afternoon with the rest of us, I feel equally envious and honored – thank you!
And I hope you didn’t forgo the salt to be healthy as a margarita without salt is a…a…a travesty! At least for me it is.
peace to you …
April 7th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
maybe we should declare a naked laundry day… much like valentine’s day or mother’s day
let hallmark take that on!
a girls day out is the most fun! i haven’t had one in a long time, but i remember them… i am the only girl in my house of 2 little boys 1 big boy and 2 boy dogs. but i love all my boys and they make me laugh every day.
a girls day out though… sigh… fun.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:30 am
your image with the bright blues and blur charmed me as the words flowed through this post Toni..wish I had been there
April 8th, 2010 at 10:28 am
Love the image, and your story, and these times are special, when it all clicks and there is laughter and philosophy…and margaritas…I think we are all always changing, always discovering, but it the sharing of those discoveries that reveals what lies within us, even to ourselves.
April 8th, 2010 at 10:49 am
Wow, I can relate very much to that feeling of spending loads of time giggling away with ‘the girls’ in what seems to be useless small talk, but come to think of it, never is, as during those sessions very serious issues underneath come up too!! It is so great to share that with people you know very well, in laughter AND in tears!!
The picture sure enhanced the feeling for me, being all colourful and blurry! Such a lovely post Toni!! Thanks!
April 8th, 2010 at 11:12 am
In a way, it’s what we have here, isn’t it? Without the margarita’s of course! But we get together every day just to chat!
April 8th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
This is great, I love those times. One day we’ll have to have a glass (pitcher) or two of margaritas together.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Really nice photo! I’m an observer, too, and shy when I don’t know people but with people I do know and a pitcher of margaritas…a whole nuther story.
April 9th, 2010 at 3:10 am
i LOVE evenings like this, quality time spent with really good girlfriends; it’s all about the ‘sisterhood’. some chilled wine and some snacks, sitting out on the veranda relaxing after a long day, week, whatever… no holds barred conversations, fun, humour, like-minded souls and shared stories. perfect