Archives for July 2010

My mother (a former Paris runway model) is amazing! She is happy and content to be a mother, wife, and non-profit administrator. We are pretty close too! We talk almost everyday. Whenever I go home for an extended period of time, my mother always finds time in her schedule to make my two favorite meals: spaghetti and fried fish.

She is also enthusiastic, kind, and generous. In fact, I can always tell when one of my siblings had a particularly challenging athletic event the evening before. Because she always sounds like an eighty-year old chain smoker when she looses her voice the day after.

I admire her a lot, and hope that I can be just as good a mother one day.

Sometimes, however, my mother’s enthusiasm can get the best of her. I often tell her haste makes waste. Cut once measure twice. But, I think at this point she is just used to having 9 people depend on her. So, whenever she can get ahead of the game she aims to do so.

One such opportunity reared its head at Thanksgiving a couple of years ago. Thanksgiving is HUGE in my house, and it is the holiday that everyone trys to make it home for. We had all gathered around the table and were preparing to say the blessing, when my mother announced that she had a gift for me. My little sister ran to get the gift bag and handed it to me with a beaming smile.

The lovely gift bag held a beautiful book that my mother purchased on sale…365 Days to the Perfect Wedding (or something of that nature). It was complete with budgets, bows, envelopes and everything one needs to plan the perfect wedding. One problem. I’m not even dating anyone…and haven’t for several years. My five brothers erupted in laughter. And I, I wanted to crawl under a rock.

Boy, did she get ahead of the game.

Late last week my dear friend and colleague, Faye, came to my office. I could tell by the way her eye brows were furrowed that she meant business. Faye edits my work too. So, my first thought was “Lord, what have I done now?”

She sat down and began with the usual pleasantries. “How are you? What are your plans for the weekend, How is your family back home  etc. etc.” I explained (nonchalantly) that I was going to run, hang out with some friends, see a musical, that my family was doing well…the usual.

And then the boot dropped. Faye was here to stage an intervention for my dating life. “Simone, do you even want to meet a guy? I mean, have you even asked God where you can meet guys? I mean to date…not to evangelize. Seriously, he’s not going to show up on your door step wearing a t-shirt that says ‘I’m the one.’ Simone, I don’t think you are taking this stuff seriously because if you were…you would be trying to make yourself available. Its going to take two years you know. One to date and a year to be engaged. Have you thought about that? I doubt it. Because clearly, you’d be frustrated if you had.”

People, I cannot make this stuff up.

So, after an hour of “counseling.” We agreed that I would make better decisions on how I spend my time. The goal is to make myself more available to meeting guys.

As a good faith effort, I decided to go to a fireworks display on Saturday night, rather than a musical. Let’s face it there wouldn’t be any eligible bachelor’s at a musical.

However, I didn’t tell Faye that I spent Friday night…in my apartment…reading a book until 4:30 a.m. Now, that’s my idea of a good time!

My brother, Isaac, is getting married in 28 days. I am more than excited for him. But, I am less than enthusiastic for myself. You see, Isaac is 25. I am 28. He is getting married before me, and that puts me in a tight spot. Why you might  ask? Because, I will have to face all of our family, all of our friends, and all their questions.

You know the questions I’m referring to. The one’s that come with raised eyebrows and feigned courtesy. You look great, Simone, how are you doing? Translation: You aren’t ugly, Simone, why aren’t you married? Ahhhh!

What’s a single girl to do? How do I explain that I am content? I LOVE my, family, job, apartment, friends, church, and all around life. How do I explain that when I wake up in the morning I thank God for another day that I get to live in this FANTASTIC city? Why does it have to boil down to this one future guy that I hope to meet in the near or distant future?

Yes. One day I do want to be married. Yes. I do want to have 4-6 kids. No. I am not delusional. I know that if I want to have that many kids I’ll have to start sooner rather than later. And No. I’m not one of those Sex in the City gals that thinks having a great career, wearing high heels to walk 20 blocks, and sleeping around is the life. I’m just not in a hurry. Can that be okay?