Friday, November 13, 2009

The Weekend Arrives




Your hair may be brushed, but your mind's untidy. You've had about seven hours of sleep since Friday. No wonder you feel that lost sensation. You're sunk from a riot of relaxation.
Ogden Nash

Tis no better day than Friday, I say. Unless you're a substitute teacher in the final hour of the school day. One can breathe the anticipation building throughout the day. By eighth period? Kids antsy. Unruly. Me? Ready to fly away.

But one thing about subbing, I don't take papers or lesson plans home. (My pay reflects that also.) I walk out the door, free as a bird. Will especially do that this weekend. Time for the annual Bunco weekend of overindulgence and relaxation. My group of 14 women has been together for over 20 years. We all met at the park, new stay at home moms, 8am and pushing our kids in the swings as we struggled to get used to a world without a paycheck, annual reviews, and a certain schedule.

An eclectic bunch -- artists, teachers, an enigma, a physician, hygienist, nurse, pilot, accountant, computer guru, saleswoman, writer, dog trainer, curriculum leader, and unlimited other talents -- we have met the second Tuesday of the month since 1989. Haven't played bunco in over ten years, but meet for the food, comfort, and talk. Lots of changes in our lives since way back then - children born, graduated, married. Deaths, divorces, cancers, depressions, a return to the workforce -- all those things life brings have bound us further. Even though many of us only see or talk to one another once in that month, we are a relaxed group when in company. I am blessed to have these bunco bitches, which is how we refer to ourselves. (There is another group in our neighborhood called the Bunco Babes. We don't belong to that one.)

Since I'll be bringing my laptop to further this Nanowrimo pursuit to move my novel forward, I'm going to let them help me write a sex scene in my book. I can only imagine how twisted that will turn out. (I'm only about 15,000 words behind the 25,000 I should have by this point.)

For some great reading, head on over to 128 Sticks of Butter. See how that friend of mine has shed her pounds and looks fabulous. (I really don't like her.) Or check out Old, Who, Me? to find a lovely tribute to our veterans. To The Smitten Image for a tribute to Canadian service men and women. Perhaps to the thirdstorey window for a little poetry. Or to Wander to the Wayside for a story of adoption. Turquoise Diaries for a quick trip to Sri Lanka or visit the Lazy Writer at A Walk in My Shoes for a lesson on adding tension to your writing. (Not your life - your writing.)

While I'm touting the greatness of others, let me also promote the new book of a very dear friend, Sorayya Khan. We go way back to college days - actually her husband and I do (I met him a few years before they became an item.) Sorayya's new book, Five Queen's Road, has just arrived via the mail. I can't wait to read it. Her previous book, Noor, is a favorite of mine. Sorayya is a most lovely woman. You will enjoy her writing.


And now, to the weekend where I'll take a break from the thoughts of midlife jobhunting and reflect on the gratitude I hold for a world filled with the diverse gifts of others. The picture at the beginning of my post is, I'm sure, the last bloom of my hibiscus plant for the year, so I'm sharing.
May you all enjoy your weekend in the waning days of Autumn -- before the burgeoning schedule of the holidays overtakes us.

29 comments:

  1. What a pretty flower! The bright colors have left my neck of the woods. I miss them already! Have fun with your bunco pals!

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  2. Thank you for expressing the importance of women friends. Have a wonderful time this weekend and let us know how the sex scene works out.

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  3. Oh it sounds like a fabulous weekend. Enjoy it.

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  4. Sounds like you have a great weekend ahead of you. Enjoy! :)

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  5. Great post. I need some good reading material. Lately I haven't even been doing my crossword puzzles.

    Have a great week-end. You are rich in friends, my dear.

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  6. I always have appreciate my women friends and realize how important they have become in my life.
    Love hearing about your day of subbing......enjoy your weekend my friend......:-) Hugs

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  7. Great that you have been able to maintain those important connections for so long.

    I'll watch the police blotter for tales of your fun weekend.

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  8. I'm so envious of your weekend. A friend and I have been having a hard time connecting since the kids are gone. We finally decided the only way to make sure it happens is to schedule a monthly meeting. This week was the first monthly Wine/Whine on Wednesday. We had so much fun, we're thinking it may have to be weekly instead of monthly.

    Have a great time. I can't wait to hear how your sex scene comes out.

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  9. Friends - where would we be without them? I love that idea of you all meeting once a month for all those years - old friends are the best kind. Enjoy your weekend, sounds to me as though you thoroughly deserve it.

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  10. What a fun way to spend the weekend,you are truly blessed ...have a great one.

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  11. Would you mind if some of us showed up for the December get-together? I'm only a stone's throw away in Georgia - gosh, it shouldn't cost but a couple of hundred dollars.

    I had forgotten that your subing -thank goodness you have something to keep you off the streets and out of trouble! (This is kind of funny - you know how you sometimes read something with one eye and watch something on tv with the other? Well, I got to the line that you were taking your laptop and they were going to help you write the sex scene. And I thought WTF? She's going to get 8th graders to help her write a sex scene? Won't she get in trouble for that? Of course I had spaced out a few sentences there! Though that would be interesting ...).

    I love that book cover! I'd probably get the book just for that reason if I were to come across it! I'm a sucker for a nice cover.

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  12. "Deaths, divorces, cancers, depressions, a return to the workforce -- all those things life brings have bound us further." Definitely sums up mid-life. Must Google bunco...enjoy your wonderful, non-work-filled weekend for a well deserved rest!

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  13. Have a wonderful time! What a great way to keep at nanowrimo - and have some fun with the sex scene. I'll bet it's going to be a hoot.

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  14. Your post put me in a relaxed and grateful mood. Thanks.
    By the way, we have Bunco Broads, Bitches and Babes in my eighborhood too. One day, when I can steal a little more me-time, I may join them. :)

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  15. I envy you these long term women friends. I don't envy you the substitute gig on a Friday afternoon. Get your rest and your fun by writing those sex scenes.

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  16. beautiful flower
    thank you for links to more wonderful bloggers

    have a wonderful weekend

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  17. I can't get my mind around a group of women like that. Sounds like fun. The stuff of movies and novels! (I'd be the other kind of movie woman, lone sleeve over hand kinda weird one that falls accidentally in with a spy. You know, right?)

    Enjoy this weekend, for all its worth. I'm hoping too, also.

    xo
    erin

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  18. Love your writng...you need to finish that book!

    I meet once a month for lunch with women I went to grade school with...we're the "Classic Chicks" and we're all over 60.

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  19. I was running with a bunch of Cajun Broads and Babes for a while, but once they turned 50 they started staying home, all the time. So, I've had to hang around more with guys, since then. :) Your gang sounds like a fun group! Have a blast, cher! Cheers!

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  20. Good luck with that sex scene, Julie - I started my first (and my characters' first) in, hmm, mid-July I think it was, and am only just now finishing it. Like pulling teeth.

    And lucky you to have a long-lasting group of friends like that. I'm envious.

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  21. Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for the wonderful tips..

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  22. I am in awe that you have a group of women for the long term all close by. The ones I've known forever are all over the country. One thought that brightens me about getting older is cultivating new friends and embracing the old. Have a have a fantastic weekend talking about everything including good sex! Er, sex scenes.

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  23. Enjoy your bunco-free Bunco Bitches weekend. There is nothing quite like a group of friends with whom you share a long history.

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  24. Have a wonderful weekend...there is nothing better than a weekend with long-time girlfriends!!! And your friend's book look fab...will have to check it out! ~Janine XO

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  25. A bit of life came up and I am stalled at 11,000 + words on nanowrimo... If you send me an email, I'll send you my profile to buddy up.

    Your friends and your bond and your weekend sound lovely.

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  26. What a lovely post! Your Bunco pals sound comparable to my book club ladies...but please, please can you let me know what or who is your 'enigma' bunco? She sounds fascinating!

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  27. This sounds like a great weekend and from the pics, it definitely was.

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  28. I know and enjoy some of those bloggers you mentioned and I'm going to check out the rest!

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  29. I am in a group like that.....we call ourselves the secret society of crazy broads. Their friendship has meant so much to me. OMG I laughed so hard when I read that you were going to let them help you write the sex scene....too funny. I have a co-worker who introduced me to pop rocks.....and here I thought they were candy for kids. I would need a lot of help apparently writing a sex scene. I am so enjoying reading your blog. Can't wait to read your book. Cheers.

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