I am 17. I don't like baking and I don't have kids. I see no appeal in going to these parties and it is always awkward for me to find conversation with these women. Yet every year, I get wrangled into attending.
This year I stayed longer than I usually do. I found a seat, plopped my butt down, and listened. For the first time I listened to the stories of the older woman around me. I heard tall tales, honesty, and bragging. I heard stories from foreign lands, from the neighborhood, from private households. I heard sadness, animation, and excitement.
There are two stories that stuck out to me the most . They are not remarkable stories but they really got me thinking.
#1: A pompous lady continually slipped in little facts about her daughter. The jewels around her neck sparkled in her eyes as she convinced me to look into her daughter major (biochemical sciences). Her perfectly white teeth flashed at me as she boasted about her daughter's plan of backpacking through Europe. He manicured hands flew to her doughy stomach as she described her daughter's workout regimen that keeps her fit. But her coifed updo didn't move an inch, when she threw her head back and laughed at a joke her daughters "gorgeous" boyfriend told her.
#2: A sweet elderly woman talked nonstop for twenty minutes about her husband. Her animated wrinkles moved with every smile, and frown, and vowel pronounced. Her weathered hands flew in the air at the exciting points and touched my hand at the endearing moments. She spoke of her husband's first love... the shooting range. She specified different types of guns and ammo. She informed me of al the areas that are good for hunting. She even vividly explained to me how it feels to wake up early to accompany a loved one's hunting trip. She argued with the other woman about the best place to skeet shoot, her quintessential old woman boot stomped on the ground.
See, these stories are in no way captivating or publish worthy. But it gave me a sense of FAMILY. At my age, these woman probably told others of their own personal victories. Now that they are older they share their family's victories.
As you get older your children's feats of greatness become your own. You want people to know that the human being you birthed is successful, thus making you successful. and as you continue to age and your kids have moved out, your triumphs are those shared with your life mate.
Its the holidays. I'm in a better mood than the last posting. Enjoy the holidays with your family. Share.