04.09.07

The Girls’ Day (and Night) of Fun

Posted in Dawn's Life at 8:40 am by Dawn Miller

One of my long-term (I hate to say old - we are not old - we are mid-30s) girlfriends from high school came to visit last weekend. When she called mid-afternoon on Friday to say the job fair was shutting down and she’d be getting back to the house early - I started bouncing around the house like a kindergartener on the last day of school.

In spite of the chilly weather, we headed out to Leesburg - a slice of smalltown Americana. We hunted in vain for the Leesburg Independent bookstore - it apparently closed or is moving - but we enjoyed the hunt and strolled the quaint streets. I bought adorable little Easter buckets for the skids at Mrs. Tate’s Bake Shop and Tea Room. They are teenagers - but I still think they should get something special for Easter. Heck, my Mom still mails me an Easter basket.

Next to the old-style theater - we stopped at Market Street Coffee - one of those wonderful independent coffee houses with art that oozes warmth and caffeine. We snared comfy armchairs next to the fireplace and chatted for an hour and a half. The talk turned to family life - and it struck me how very differerent our lives are. In high school we met in Latin Class ironically - and we lived together while I was in grad school and she was working. She went on to join the military and is now about to finish a graduate degree in international relations. She’s single and has tons of options in front of her.

I feel more tied-down than she is, but can’t say I really mind. I recently decided to put finishing my doctorate on hold for one more year because I can’t leave my family for four months during my stepdaughter’s senior year of high school. And unfortunately right now finishing means packing up and moving back to the University 700 miles away for four months this fall or spring - and I just can’t bear to be away from my family like that this year. This might be the last year she lives with us.

It’s amazing to me how my identity as a stepmom has shifted some of my priorities. I’m still the same person - an idealist who likes working with charities and thinks ordinary people can change things. I still love to write and do publicity. But my priorities have changed. A few years ago - saying that I was delaying my doctorate to spend time with my family would have sounded like sacrilege. Back home at the kitchen table - we stayed up late with my husband over a bottle or two of wine - enjoying the night and talking. It’s funny how you can see an old friend and just re-connect like time hasn’t passed.

We headed into Washington, DC on Saturday for “The Girls’ Day of Fun.” We wanted to see the Spy Museum, but tickets were sold out. Conveniently across the street, was the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, so we headed inside to admire the presidential portraits (for history buffs - this was our idea of fun - I know, my stepchildren will call this - quite sad), including this lovely portrait of George Washington. We enjoyed a leisurely seafood lunch.

Then we walked over to the National Mall and visited the new(er) National Museum of the American Indian. The best thing we saw was their exhibit of dresses by Native American women. The beadwork and decoration was absolutely exquisite. I was blown by the exhibit and the voices of these women artists, and also fascinated with how they are applying their traditional artwork and beading to family life today. See the example at left of a dress, covered with elk teeth.

Completely tuckered out, we went home for a light dinner, and I started cooking for my planned Easter extravaganza. Easter dinner was a spread worthy of Martha Stewart. The skids bounced around even before the homemade cheesecake, but it was fun. My friend packed some ham sandwiches for the road, and headed back to the grad school grind. She emailed me later how much she enjoyed her trip, and didn’t realize until she got home how badly she needed some down time from her rapid fire routine of school and work.

With everyone gone - hubby and I took a 3 hour nap. All of that fun wore me out.

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