girls in white dresses
and other ~girly~ content i've clung to
Welcomed another nephew to “Aunt ‘Rah”’s crew this week. Christopher John “CJ” came in hot at 10 lbs 01 oz, matching his birth time of 10:01 a.m.! My SIL and CJ are doing well, and big brother Jackson was very intrigued by his new little buddy. So fun for my brother and his fam!
Now — onto this week’s completely non-running-related opining.
There’s been much discussion of whether or not we’re in a rom-com drought — not the Hallmark/Netflix variety, but the real classics — and I’ve been finding myself coming back to tried and true content. Even Reuters is asking about whether the rom com as we know it can be revived. I’ve been in deep on TikTok Rom Com threads thinking about the How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, When Harry Met Sally, Father of the Bride, 27 Dresses types of movies and the People We Meet on Vacation books, and it hit me. I’m at the prime Rom Com age. I could easily be the trope of the big city corporate marketing manager balancing competing priorities and trying to build a life outside of work (though I am happily in a relationship, which does disqualify me from going back to my hometown and falling for a local business owner, phew!)
But the stage of life part of it all keeps coming back to me.
A friend and I were texting last week about how we feel like we’re in the ‘adult awkward phase,’ where we have surprise hangovers, need to try different hair products, take vitamins, and are navigating new, old, and changing friendships, relationships, careers, life dynamics. While the easy joke right now is that I’m following in Katherine Heigl’s shoes re: 27 Dresses with my 2022 - 2023 wedding lineups, the real thing that has stood out to me is a random book I read for the first time probably seven years ago now: Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close (GIWD). It follows a friend group from college graduation through roughly their 30th birthdays (the title is quite deceptive imo — not really about brides/weddings.) I’ve read it every couple of years, taking away different things each time. I think the first read I was a senior in college, anxiously awaiting graduation and finally getting to move to New York and build a career and life of my own. I read it again right before the onset of COVID-19, noticing some similarities between my own friend group and decisions being made and dynamics shifting. I have friends getting married, a couple navigating divorce, friends with kids, friends still figuring out their career paths, friends I now see every few years instead of daily, and everything in-between (and a lot of friends I cheer on from the sidelines of Instagram. Which doesn’t always feel like enough? But also sort of has to be sometimes.) In the classic Rom Coms, the main characters are seemingly also in this pre-30 awkward phase. But why do they make it seem so cool and easy?
The book’s been on my mind a lot recently. But I haven’t opened it up again just yet. I know I’m right in the age where the book shifts toward the resolve and I know I used to be unsure about the ending. For some reason I can’t bring myself to revisit it and feel unsure about how my reality maps up against the fiction, however irrational that may be. But the shift in lifestyles, priorities, friend groups, family dynamics, the stories we tell ourselves throughout our 20s is massive - yet usually gets condensed into a 90 minute movie with a happy ending. In reality we’re all wondering what’s next while trying to enjoy the day to day. We’re trying to balance doing things while also saving money, staying in shape, getting enough sleep.
This is a fun age. I like feeling rooted, more established, and really surrounded by incredible people near and far. But part of me is still like ???? when I realize that Meredith Blake was a casual 26 years old in The Parent Trap, you know?
Mentally I’m still more of a Mia Thermopolis.
Maybe this doesn’t make any sense. But if you’re someone who’s rewatched New Girl or Gilmore Girls during certain seasons of life, hopefully you see what I’m getting at. I need a new epic Rom Com… and probably a re-read of GIWD.
Reading recs? Underrated Rom Com recs? I’m all ears.
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micro joys for the week:
trader joe’s petite bouquets- $4 of happiness that makes my little apartment feel a bit more homey, and a lot less stuffy
friends in town - it’s tourism season!! getting to see out-of-town friends while they’re here is so nice. there’s been a slew of people in and out of the city recently and i’ve loved getting some good irl catch up time. like seeing my freshman year of college roommate and her husband, in my neighborhood in nyc! would 2013 us have believed this?
knowing sometimes the problem isn’t you - maybe this is a macro joy? or a corporate/first world problem? but, man. getting that gut check or IM that confirms the thing that has me spinning isn’t because of me… a special kind of joy/relief. (though, sometimes the problem is me.)
golf - i’ve been dabbling in golf since COVID when that was the only activity I could really do post-femur injury, and my parents have been avid golfers for as long as i can remember. From Netflix’s Full Swing and following more of the guys and their families, i’m in deep. Max Homa and Tony Finau’s wives are on my For You Page and i’m fascinated by life on tour. it just seems so fun! i played a par 3 course with my parents a few weeks ago and am always humbled by how living in a city and not getting to a driving range often really doesn’t set you up for success out there.
it’s officially ‘drink outdoors’ weather. lemonade, sweet tea, bud lite, margaritas. enjoy! I’m off to meet my new nephew and celebrate the marriage of one of my best friends this weekend. cheers!
xo,
SDough