A couple of days ago my best friend from high school paid us a visit. She stayed with us 3 days. It was a dizziness inducing breath of fresh air, that vist of her. Some real woman, with expensive perfume wafitng around her head and shoulders, matching jewellery, matching make-up, zero roots, strict GI diet, and maxi appetite for life. Some of that 'let's take care of number ONE' spirit rubbed off on me, but with only fleeting effect. She left us on Saturday, and today I am back to biscuit scoffing and earings in the knickers drawer ways of my life. With my life bursting at seams with tamtrums, dirty nappies, pukes and teething problems, it's hard to find two matching socks, not to mention earings.But that's my problem.
My friend has different issues to deal with. Unmarried. Unbabied. A bit put off by the time pressures of the rigmadomestic life , she is trying to decide if she parts to join the club. Surely, deeo down she knows that some crush turning into love turning into rampant sex churning off babies will do most of the decision making for her. But still, at least for now, she is being quite rational about it. She actually used the visit in our domestic chaos as a test. 'If they play with me and miss me once I am gone, then it's OK for me to have my own kids'She said with a wink, but only to conceal that she was dead serious about the result.
'Sure, why not. I'll tell you if they break down and cry for you when you leave'. And so she spent three days- to my utmost joy- playing with my children, dancing. drawing, rolling around the floor, and getting exhausted, but still reserving enough energy to crack a botlle of wine after kids have gone to bed.
Three days later...my friend is now gone
Kids are happy, no sign of tears, tucked away in beds
I am close to a nervous breakdown.