santa cruz wharf

18 June 2008

Places to Go Things to See People to Meet

Dating in your forties has some distinct advantages.

One benefit is that you get to go lots of really interesting places and meet all kinds of new people. Here is a brief synopsis of one couple’s past week. It works better with charts and string lines…but oh well…just read slowly.

Boyfriend goes with Girlfriend to help her daughter move (following daughter’s six week nightingale tour with great grandpa) with the aid of Girlfriend’s ex-husband, Girlfriend’s mother and daughter’s half brother. Girlfriend and ex-husband last met at daughter’s college graduation. Ex-husband’s current wife doesn’t attend…but is helpful and supportive from 400 miles away. Girlfriend walks away laughing at the sight of ex-husband and Boyfriend lying down next to each other. (okay…okay…they were on the floor peering under the washer discussing the best way to disconnect…but still….) At the end of the day ex-husband and father of Girlfriend’s daughter is highly appreciative of Boyfriend’s packing and truck driving abilities. Even dinner was an enjoyable event.

Boyfriend attends Girlfriend’s stepson’s high school graduation with assorted members of Girlfriend's family....Girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend’s family…as well as family of Girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend’s deceased wife. Following ceremony they also attend graduation party at ex-boyfriend’s home where Girlfriend use to live. Girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend’s current girlfriend is an old friend. She wants to talk about the whacked-girlfriend in between, against whom we all have a TRO. Boyfriend is scrutinized by Girlfriend’s stepson’s deceased mother’s family. Boyfriend spends the better part of two hours hangin’ with Girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend’s brother looking at Harleys and talkin’ aftermarket upgrades. All may be riding together to Hollister for the 4th.

Girlfriend accompanies Boyfriend to his stepson’s college graduation festivities. Girlfriend gets to hang with both of boyfriend’s second-ex-wife’s ex-husbands and her current boyfriend at the home of the second-ex-wife’s first husband (father of the graduate) and his current wife. Families of Boyfriend, his second-ex-wife and her first-ex-husband are all represented. Girlfriend of Boyfriend…and boyfriend of second-ex-wife are too far down the food chain to warrant a ticket to the ceremony. So…Girlfriend hangs with Boyfriend’s younger Airforce son (who flew in just for the weekend) for a few hours...all over town. Girlfriend’s daughter (see above) graduated from the same university a couple years ago. All families are sweetly friendly and overly welcoming to Girlfriend in a manner meant to covey to Boyfriend that he is still a beloved member of their family. Girlfriend enters the twilight zone.

Boyfriend, Boyfriend’s father, and Boyfriend’s sons do manly activities for Fathers’ Day. Girlfriend hangs out with Boyfriend’s mother…helping her with her blog….and reviewing the 200 plus photographs that Girlfriend took at the wedding of Boyfriend’s older son and new daughter-in-law. (that was the week before)

Girlfriend and Boyfriend take Boyfriend’s dog from Boyfriend’s second ex-wife for a few days camping in the Redwoods.

Big Basin Redwoods.

Three Days.

No cellphone coverage.
No internet access.
No ex’s.
No Jerry Springer.

Just the Twilight Zone
.

17 comments:

Jeff B said...

I just have one question...

"Who's on first?"

Desert Songbird said...

What's on second?

Mel said...

<--Fuzzbrain on third humming Theme from Twilight Zone

Mimi Lenox said...

Listen "girlfriend"..That was absolutely hysterical..especially the part about your ex and boyfriend under the washer. I sincerely hope you snapped a picture of that.

My question is...how are you sane after that??! Have a wonderful time in the woods.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

"I don't knows" on third...

and a partridge in a pear treeeeeeeeeee


OK, now I need a drink to uncomfuzzle my brain

But in the end it sounds like girlfriend and boyfriend were accepted by the others families and assorted hanger-ons and that is just aces.

and I agree with Mimi ...hope we get a picture of the under the washer bonding

david mcmahon said...

You are simply brilliant. That was sensational.

Three days under the redwoods - I could have been in Photography Heaven!

The Teamster said...

ok...boyfriend here....

have you ever watched "the wizard of oz" while listening to "dark side of the moon"? Reading this is much more enjoyable listening to "dueling banjo's"...but you have to start the tape right before you read "at the sight of ex-husband and Boyfriend lying down next to each other"....WTF?

As the plans of these two weekends unfolded we knew it would be a cluster fuck (yes i said it) however the underlying message was how we all behaved and that much of the focus was on the daughter moving's needs and of the pride we all had in the graduates.....

The branches of these trees are carefully scraping on the ground (and i didn't know that the family of the deceased mother's family was scrutinizing me) and I feel that there is some Sociology final paper somewhere in this mess..

It was an experience that unfortunately is becoming more and more common with our second and third generation of blended families....

and Katherine...you could have posted a picture of Lile...............Boyfriend's dog..

Maggie Moo said...

Uh...wow. :) That made my head spin!!

Linda said...

Uhm, I got lost somewhere in the middle of the fourth paragraph and wandered around aimlessly for an hour before I was able to find my way back out! How on earth did you manage to keep that all straight?

I guess this might explain why I haven't done any dating in my 40's and probably won't in my 50's either - it's too confusing! But it sure makes for a heck of a great blog post!

Ah, under the Redwoods for three days ... you are indeed a very lucky woman on many levels!

katherine. said...

Jeff: no kidding…it was sorta funny

Songbird: I’m sending you and Jeff the chart…with photos.

Mel: ah…Wednesday…sorry. I’m singing with ya dear one.

Mimi: its funny NOW. I wish I had taken pictures of moving day…we took about three hundred at the other events. And no…I am not sane….although the forest helped a bit.

Bond: maybe tolerated is a better word. Truthfully I kept the drinking to almost nil…I was afraid of the whole “in vino veritas” concept ya know? That was NOT the place for me to be speaking truth….

David: thanks sir….you would have taken hundreds of shots! The light was amazing…perfect blue skies…new growth leaves in many shades of green…

Teamster: forewarned helped us all to be forearmed for sure.

Hadn’t thought about a soundtrack…but hey as long as we can WCS to it….cool….

Linda’s family was trying to figure out if you were the same guy who came to Little Missy’s graduation two years ago…only now with a shaved head….hence the scrutinization…

and I NEVER post pictures of anyone’s baby…
unless I have prior permission….
Consider it done.

Mags: Ya just really gotta laugh….

Linda: I wanted to post pics to keep it straight…but forgot to take the necessary release forms for everyone to sign …laughing….

Mel said...

<--forgot and feels silly now....

Congratulations on the graduations!
And on the move...

Very cool things happening for (undoubtedly) very cool people!

Katney said...

Did you put it on a spreadsheet? It might be the only way for the rest of us.

katherine. said...

mel: emerging from fuzzday...cool things indeed...everyone is growing up....

katney: that is a GREAT idea...I love excel...hmmm....

Travis Cody said...

I'm too exhausted to be fuzzled.

Odat said...

LOL. You're a hoot!

I have to have a second cup of coffee and come back to read this again. ;-)

Peace

Marilyn said...

I'm pretty sure we are related.

Sandee said...

There are so many "ex's" in this post that I got a bit lost. Wow. You must of got your fingers all twisted just typing this post. Just saying. Have a grand day. :)