There I was, leaning against my kitchen counter donning my PJs, eating cereal directly from the box, looking out across my new apartment to the lights outside. It was midnight. I was listening to some random music from my ALL the songs playlist (And I mean ALL the songs: We’re talking Bon Jovi to Keith Urban to Spice Girls to Billy Joel to Boys II Men and more…), while the candles flickered.
I’d never done this before. Any of this.
It almost felt a tad naughty… But who would tell me to go to bed or stop snacking straight from the box? HA!
This was my first time truly living alone.
This was my first time I was not accountable to any one.
That chapter of my life had ended. The divorce process had begun.
This was my first time donning PJs while eating cereal directly from the box, looking across my apartment full of boxes, as random music became this moment in time’s soundtrack, at midnight.
I was alone.
But, I didn’t feel alone.
That’s how I knew I would be OK.
Everything would be OK.
And this isn’t me looking back with nostalgia. Believe me, I was “scared” in the normal way everyone is when struck with a MAJOR plot twist and so many firsts that had to be accomplished on my own… But this thought crossed my mind and wrapped me in a hug. And I hugged back gosh darn it!
But, WHO would this new chapter’s protagonist be as so much was new? What will this woman be like? I needed to get to know her. (Oh, and I still am because almost right after I moved out, yea, a pandemic happened and lockdowns. SO we will be getting to meet this “new yet familiar” woman in this chapter, together.)
So clearly, we have now fast forwarded a tad which leads us to now.
Standing against my counter yesterday, eating chips directly from the bag (Note: I am not a chips girl, but hey, leftovers from one of my birthday parties!), looking across my apartment decorated à la moi, at midnight, alone.
But I didn’t feel alone.
And I got to thinking…
…What were you thinking, J?
WELP, there have been so many stories, so many plot twists, so many tales I shared with friends injecting my humor and personality that made us smile. Because there have been a number of shitty and glorious moments. Moments where I had to build that fearless and risk taking muscle and just take the leap; just GET IN THE WATER (The Notebook reference anyone?).
Taking a step back, throwing a dash of perspective on it, and laughing makes a world of a difference.
My friends’ gentle nudging of my sharing this with others led me to take another plunge and create a blog.
Because we all have been (or will be) hit by plot twists.
And you know what? Damn it, we just need to dance to them.
I’m here to be your dance partner in this adventure called life.
Get ready lovely reader because I just bought the highest pair of dance shoes at my new dance class I just joined and am ready to go. (Note: This is a true story, not a metaphor. They are bronze. I will be bejeweling them this week. Oh yes, I randomly decided to start learning Latin dance in this new chapter. But THAT is another story. I digress… This will happen. You have been warned.)
Talk to you soon,
J
Dancing the Plot Twist 