Thursday, July 2, 2009

hair flips and giggles


Something really strange happened here last night and I'm still a little freaked out by it. There was a girl. A really stinking cute girl. In my house. Sitting about two inches from Sasquatch in front of the computer. And about every two minutes or so she would flip back her hair and giggle.


Sweet Jesus. It took seventeen years, but the day has come. The party is over.


My friend Laurie came to pick me up for Tuesday night volleyball and headed toward the bathroom as soon as she walked in. I stood mutely in the living room as she headed past the room they were in, watching as his second mother started to call out a cheery "hey, Sasquatch". She stopped dead in her tracks, looked back at me (still standing paralyzed in the living room) and headed straight to the laundry room - the furthest away room - to quietly have a stroke. I met her there, accompanied by the sound of giggling, and we engaged in a manic mime routine that all boiled down to one pertinent question - WTF?


It didn't get any better when we got to volleyball.


"You know they're totally having sex right now, don't you?"


"Have you had the condom talk lately?"


"Funny. You don't look old enough to be a grandma".


"You want me to go sneak in the back door and see what they're doing?"


It was a long ninety minutes.


Today I talked to him about it, knowing full well it was going to be damn near impossible.


"So," I said casually, "she's really just a friend?"


"Uh huh," said he.


"Not a girlfriend, eh?"


"She has a boyfriend," he said. "I've told you that".


"You told me a few months ago that she had a boyfriend. Things change," I replied.


"Well," he said woodenly, "she still has him".


Ah. My boy is in waiting game hell. Now I get it.


"So she's not your girlfriend?"


"Nope"


"Is there anyone you're interested in?"


"Nope"


"Would you tell me if you were?"


"Yep"


"Would you really?"


He looked at me and shot a grin that has become lately become quite fetching. I've seen the way teenage girls look at him, and even though it makes my life flash in front of my eyes, I totally get why.


"Maybe".


I understand that when they're seventeen you have to take every bone they throw you, and I get that I've been lucky that it's taken this long to happen. But all night I kept hearing the sound of teenage giggling in my dreams...


And I know it's just a matter of time.

52 comments:

Kim Chandler said...

Oh boy RC this is a tough one! What sucks is that we have all been there, we know exactly how he is feeling. :) And I know exactly how you are feeling, be brave.

Maggie May said...

Thats what happens....... difficult new phase in life.....*sigh*

Rose said...

Good luck. My 20 year old had a hickey last year and as I was driving the car when I saw it, we were lucky we didn't die in a car wreck, I was that shocked! Again I say, good luck. It's a long, strange trip.

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

I'm entering that phase with my kids too. Fun, huh?

Irene said...

You should have the condom talk anyway and make sure he has some reliable ones.

ped crossing said...

As always, you are my crystal ball. Right now he is 8 and cute and funny and I have nothing to worry about. But in 8 or 9 years, I know exactly where I am headed and you are there. I will have you on speed dial.

aims said...

Oh boy!

Well - just think. Grandchildren (eventually) are so cute. They get to go home with the parents.

Life as you once knew it is definitely over.

Amy said...

How exciting! And scary! And weird. You and your friend gesturing wildly and envisioning the mufti wufti will have me in fits all day.

Maggie said...

I think that was very sweet. I am grabbing at the bones thrown to be right now...you've helped give me some perspective, thanks friend!

Akelamalu said...

Methinks soon he will be her boyfriend! :0

Devon said...

I fear when my son gets that age, 7 years to go! He still snuggles and loves me sweetly, but the boy is not one to communicate!

Last year his school went into lockdown due to a mountain lion on campus... you think he would mention it? Not my boy. I knew about the lockdown when I picked him up and asked him what happened at school... his answer, "Nothing much, same as always."

Lord help me in the coming years!!!

lv4921391 said...

there are all kinds of 28/29 year old grandma's here in Southern Cal...it's about time mother nature caught up with you ...haha

LFG said...

first, you have nothing to say nine days until you need help ? Wonder where he gets it from ????? second, if you have to get them drunk, make it happen. he has plenty of friends, time for new experiences. all part of the maturing process, unless you want them living at home when they're 40. And she's cute. hook him up. and it will make for good blog. talk to her then slip him a rupie tonight.

Altaglow said...

Has Larry lost his mind? Sweet man, please tell me concisely wtf you were getting at with your post.

Altaglow said...

Has Larry lost his mind? Sweet man, please tell me concisely wtf you were getting at with your post.

LFG said...

easy. don't let him grow up to be a old nut with a bird like me. experience is the best teacher in the world. It's going to happen sooner or later. might as well be where you have some connection to both parties. He won't be a boy forever. Don't let him be so confused that he wakes up one day and realizes that a bird is his companion. (only partially tongue in cheek.)

Pamela said...

I'd never want to go thru teenagers again (:

(they are why I'm so old)

LFG said...

keep in mind, i also think that when males turn 18 they should be required to spend one week with a registered 40 year old female sex therapist. Sort of like a national service thing. Far less future rapists and many more satisfied women. Again, tongue only partially in cheek.

Amy said...

Larry, I have a dirty mind, but this isn't my blog, so if we're talking tongues, I'm biting mine.

LFG said...

Amy, not dirty, just healthy. I was thinking that if RC had daughters, would they all have chastity belts with a time lock that released on their 35th birthday ? Or would that be too soon ? She's in a great position for this "time of life". Being a nurse, accredibility and accessibility. And no contradictory advice from the other parent. Good relationships with her boys plus they have each other for support. Can't get much better.

Jo ~ said...

I have a 17 year old daughter who has friends in her room all the time (boys & girls) which makes me verrrry nervous!! I have faked her out telling her I have a camera installed to keep an eye on her and to keep it "PG" or else!!!

lebanesa said...

argh!

I think the conversation shows the issue if grown-up men and women are this far apart on what it's all about, poor adolescents, no chance of understanding whether it's friendship or romance or physical or a mixture or none.
lol

Deanna Bland Hiott PhD, MSN, RN said...

RC, "...fasten your seat belt....you're in for a bumpy ride...."

Around My Kitchen Table said...

I wish I could give you some really great advice but I have no children so everything seems very simplistic to me! Here goes, though: You've brought him up well and you have a good relationship so you'll never lose him. Watch him grow up and be proud.

LFG said...

Frances = smart

Kila said...

Not my boys. Ever. ;)

Iota said...

Teenage giggling in your dreams? Or would that be your nightmares?

LFG said...

the birds do it, the bees do it. you've done it, i've done it. we all have done it. at least you don't have to worry about him getting pregnant. :)

the planet of janet said...

oh yeah, here you go ...

good luck with that!

lebanesa said...

where are you now?

Devon said...

RC, are you in CA? Wish I could meet you, but actually I'm going to Ohio shortly.

I hope when I return you have as well!

LFG said...

will she blog again ??????

flutterby said...

Hello? Hello? (tap tap tap) Anyone out there?

Thumbelina said...

Hope you're ok. (Can't believe I didn't comment here before! I must be ill...)

Dee and Des Parrot said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Iota said...

What? No more blogging? Not even a few ER stories? Come on, throw us a bone.

Katy said...

You are coming back to blog again aren't you?

Rudee said...

What? Did you fall into a black hole?

lebanesa said...

looks as if we've been dumped. Bigger fish to fry?

Mya said...

Hey RC, where'd you go?
Mya x

flutterby said...

We need a support group for those of us exhibiting RC withdrawal symptoms.

LFG said...

you have them begging for it. what more is needed ? and, as sargent shultz would say, i know nothing.

My Aimless Infatuation said...

Ok,LFG,You just said too much......Go to my blog and give me the details.lol

LFG said...

nothing hidden between words. no details. I've asked her about the blog several times and gotten no response. I'm as unknowing as everyone one else as to the silence. women, go figure.

My Aimless Infatuation said...

Darn LFG,can't get anything around here........no new post......no details........maybe all the commenters should have a party while we wait,and wait,and wait.

Jo Beaufoix said...

Wow, that seems to have come round fast. And he sounds like a real love. The fact that he's playing the 'waiting game' is probably a good sign as he has standards, you know, he actually likes someone enough to wait and hope. Does that make sense? x

Jo Beaufoix said...

Just realised you haven't blogged for a while. Hope all is well.

Whatwhatwhat said...

Aargh it gets so hard once the 'boy' and 'girl' divide comes in. Oh dear, is all.

Maria said...

Ah, don't worry. It'll be okay. He seems like a sensible sort of lad....

San said...

Been there. Done that. I understand. Although I do enjoy reading your lively telling of the situation.

I'm over from David's. Great post!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful, bought back a lot of memories from the far side. First love is bad enough but when it is your kids suffering those aching pangs...tough.

Anonymous said...

I worry so much about this phase and then I think back about myself at that phase and ....worry more. Hormones.....ugh!