This is what I get for staying up late with my kids watching alien movies and then sleeping in the next morning: a wicked caffeine withdrawal headache. But so worth it when I remember the fun we had.
After feeling kinda crummy following my conversation with Romeo, as detailed in yesterday's post, we went to the mall for a few hours to let the kids use their gift cards, grabbed some sushi on the way home, and then followed dinner with a game of Taboo. Goodwrench's girlfriend joined us this time; we'll call her Geller, after Monica Geller on the old TV show "Friends" because: 1) she looks like her 2) she's spunky like her and 3) she has a freaky propensity for organization/neatness that I personally LOVE. Juliet wasn't with us and she was missed; the rest of us divided into teams. We avoided the boys vs. girls teams this time because it got too heated when we did that playing the game "Battle of the Sexes."
Taboo is a great game for getting people to come out of their shells. All of us were somewhat reserved the first few rounds. After that, it was no holds barred. DJ's cheeks were pink with her exertions and extortions to try to describe the word we had to guess. The normally reserved Bulldog even became a goofball in spite of painstakingly doing his best for his team. So much so, that I caught him shoving chopsticks under his lip doing an impression of a walrus. Geller was exasperated with his painstaking-ness because she's a "snap to it" kind of girl, which completely cracks Bulldog up. Goodwrench is almost always easy come-easy go about almost anything, except politics and PLEASE don't get him started on THAT. But he had to make fun of Geller because she insisted on using the game cards in an orderly, color coded method. Romeo was laughing so hard he reminded me of his 5 year old self. And of course, he prided himself on coming up with our team name. When Goodwrench, Geller and Bulldog came up with "Team Awesome" for Team A, Romeo came up with "Team Better than You" for Team B, which turned out to be apt because we indeed smoked them 100 to 82.
I had to end the evening watching a happy alien movie because we all are kind of alien freaks around here. We love talking about conspiracy theories, and UFOs, aliens, the end of the Mayan calender....or is it the Aztecs or the Incas? I can't remember. Anyway, Goodwrench showed us an alarming YouTube video with an underlying doomsday alien invasion theme that kind of spooked me so we had to watch "Contact" so that I could believe in philanthropic aliens before I went to sleep.
And that's how we ended our evening-DJ putting her ice cold feet in my lap because the warmth of her feet is way more important than my comfort. Romeo fretting that if I reclined on the sofa I would fall asleep (he hates it when I fall asleep when we're supposed to be watching together), Goodwrench and Geller snuggling on one end of the sofa, and Bulldog hanging in there until he went to bed because he had to get up early the next day. He's not the big alien freak that the rest of us are, but he is patient with our weirdness. No, it wasn't Christmas day, but I felt very connected to my family and I think they felt connected too. Never underestimate the power of Aliens, Sushi and Taboo to bring a family together.
After feeling kinda crummy following my conversation with Romeo, as detailed in yesterday's post, we went to the mall for a few hours to let the kids use their gift cards, grabbed some sushi on the way home, and then followed dinner with a game of Taboo. Goodwrench's girlfriend joined us this time; we'll call her Geller, after Monica Geller on the old TV show "Friends" because: 1) she looks like her 2) she's spunky like her and 3) she has a freaky propensity for organization/neatness that I personally LOVE. Juliet wasn't with us and she was missed; the rest of us divided into teams. We avoided the boys vs. girls teams this time because it got too heated when we did that playing the game "Battle of the Sexes."
Taboo is a great game for getting people to come out of their shells. All of us were somewhat reserved the first few rounds. After that, it was no holds barred. DJ's cheeks were pink with her exertions and extortions to try to describe the word we had to guess. The normally reserved Bulldog even became a goofball in spite of painstakingly doing his best for his team. So much so, that I caught him shoving chopsticks under his lip doing an impression of a walrus. Geller was exasperated with his painstaking-ness because she's a "snap to it" kind of girl, which completely cracks Bulldog up. Goodwrench is almost always easy come-easy go about almost anything, except politics and PLEASE don't get him started on THAT. But he had to make fun of Geller because she insisted on using the game cards in an orderly, color coded method. Romeo was laughing so hard he reminded me of his 5 year old self. And of course, he prided himself on coming up with our team name. When Goodwrench, Geller and Bulldog came up with "Team Awesome" for Team A, Romeo came up with "Team Better than You" for Team B, which turned out to be apt because we indeed smoked them 100 to 82.
I had to end the evening watching a happy alien movie because we all are kind of alien freaks around here. We love talking about conspiracy theories, and UFOs, aliens, the end of the Mayan calender....or is it the Aztecs or the Incas? I can't remember. Anyway, Goodwrench showed us an alarming YouTube video with an underlying doomsday alien invasion theme that kind of spooked me so we had to watch "Contact" so that I could believe in philanthropic aliens before I went to sleep.
And that's how we ended our evening-DJ putting her ice cold feet in my lap because the warmth of her feet is way more important than my comfort. Romeo fretting that if I reclined on the sofa I would fall asleep (he hates it when I fall asleep when we're supposed to be watching together), Goodwrench and Geller snuggling on one end of the sofa, and Bulldog hanging in there until he went to bed because he had to get up early the next day. He's not the big alien freak that the rest of us are, but he is patient with our weirdness. No, it wasn't Christmas day, but I felt very connected to my family and I think they felt connected too. Never underestimate the power of Aliens, Sushi and Taboo to bring a family together.
PAM
ReplyDeleteI found your blog thru someone’s link and let me say, once I started reading, I was riveted. I couldn’t stop reading until I’d read the whole thing. I hope you can realize that you and Bulldog are VERY special one-in-a-million parents. Why do I say that? Because you two “get it” and are making sure DJ doesn’t have to live a life of misery and regret. I can assure you that most parents in your situation, either wouldn’t “get it” or would be in heavy denial.
Who am I and why should I care one way or the other? I’m a 57 year old guy and I’ve lived a life of regret. When I was DJ’s age in 1970, the term “transgender” didn’t really exist. And if it did exist, it certainly didn’t in my world. I never “came out” or told anyone, I was terrified of what would transpire. Suicidal? Yes, been there - done that. Depression? Yes, been there - done that - got the t-shirt. Yes, I’ve cross-dressed covertly off and on through the years (never in public), and have purged a countless number of times. Who knows what my life would be like now if my parents and society had been as enlightened back then as you are now? My only “escape” was music, and it’s been a blessing and a curse, but it‘s what kept me alive to this day. There’s a lot more complicated stuff I could go into, but enough about me for now.
Pam…I have to commend you on looking at the slightly humorous side to this whole experience. If we can't laugh at ourselves and our own then who the hell can we laugh at? I loved it when you were talking about DJ’s ineptness in walking in heels and the crazy 80‘s outfits.
Just know that you’re a very special Mother and parent. And just know that…I’m out here in the ozone reading…and I care. I wish you and Bulldog, and DJ, and the whole family nothing but the best.
JS
Dear JS-can we be cyber pals? If so, please respond to my gmail address where I check my e-mails a couple times a week. Thanks many times over for sharing your thoughts. YOu've intrigued me-you must be incredibly strong. I hope to hear from you again soon. XO
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, we can be cyber pals. I clicked on the little email envelope thing on the blog and your email addy didn't show up for some reason. Mine is--
ReplyDeletedeltablooze@gmail.com
Excellent and thanks....today's post is in honor of you :)
ReplyDeletePam:
ReplyDeleteNO…I’m most definitely NOT incredibly strong. Far from it. I’m a weak coward. And I’ve been one for almost 50 years. Your 16 year old daughter DJ, is the incredibly strong one. I admire her courage and yours in a way most people will never be able to comprehend. Please email me if you can. deltablooze@gmail.com.