Friendly Overtures

Today's the first day I haven't been sore from Wednesday's tennis match. I play tennis with a 90-year-old and I end up feeling like one--a sign that exercise needs to become a more regular part of my regimen.

I had a slug day Friday--just rattled around the house, cleaning, putting up drapes, and slipcovering the couches. Watched the kitties pounce on each other. I'd take pics of them cavorting, but the digital camera is in Japan with Mike.

Today, I got out of the house with two women I know from church, both young moms. At church last week, one suggested we go to the movies while her soon-to-be ex had the kids Saturday afternoon. The other mom overheard and we invited her along.

We went to see "The Pursuit of Happyness," though we missed the first 10 minutes or so waiting for mom #1 to arrive. Afterward, we compared notes: why aren't there more movies like this about single moms pursuing their dreams? Are the obstacles in our path really as big as we think? If we put our minds to it, could we achieve the kind of success in our dream pursuits as Chris Gardner did?

In the movie, Gardner's son, Christopher, tells a joke about a guy treading water and refusing rescue from two boats, saying "God will save me." When he drowned and went to heaven, he asked God why he didn't save him; God said "I sent you two boats!"

Over lunch (at a cafe that made us feel we were NOT in small town, TX), I thanked my lunch companions for being my "boats." I was glad to have people to talk to and compare notes with. It's really easy to isolate myself, to not go out exploring--especially when Mike's not here.

Both moms said they feel that way, too--isolated or that their lives revolve around the kids to the exclusion of things like friendships with other women or pursuits they enjoyed before marriage.

It was groovy to make plans for an afternoon out with the girls, to see an inspirational movie and to feel like I can relate to at least a couple of women as more than just acquaintances. That's comforting.