First Wives Club
Last night I met my wusband (as in ex-husband) in the downtown plaza to enjoy the first of our community's free summer concert series. Actually, I met B and his girlfriend. Oh, and his second wife (I was the third) is staying with him for the week while visiting from out of state, so she was there, too. As the four of us leaned against the mission wall, laughing and swaying to the music, I wondered how B was lucky enough not only to have found three fabulous women who love him, but who are able to be loving toward one another. I'm pretty sure the world would be a lot better place if the first (and second and third) ladies ran things instead of the men.
After the concert we walked to a nearby Mexican restaurant for dinner. When the waiter came by, I said, "Um, I'll have the chicken fajitas, blue cheese on my salad, and by the way all three of us have seen this guy's penis up close." Actually I only thought the last part of that statement, although I did have the chicken fajitas. I doubt I was the only one thinking about each others' various entwined anatomies, especially B, who was crammed into a booth with three present and former lovers. If I were a guy, I'd probably have stood on the table, pounded my chest, and made grunting noises or something.
As it turns out, all three of us (though we range in age from 45-62) are in varying stages of menopause and found common ground as more than just present or former first ladies of my ex. We traded hot flash and crying jag stories while B sat quietly, smiling, nodding, seemingly happy just to be included in our giddy girlishness. Probably wishing we'd shut up about menopause and spontaneously suggest we have a 4-way with him.
One our way back to the car, L and I walked behind B & P like a pair of wizened flower girls following the happy couple. Although I've seen them together on several occasions in the year they've been dating, last night was the first time I really felt their love for each other, saw the stars in P's eyes as she looked at B adoringly, recognized the shape of each one as clearly as my own. If it's possible to love someone deeply enough to want their happiness more than wanting you to be part of it, well, then, I guess those lucky stars felt at home. In the midst of this realization, I whispered to L that I'm glad B found P because she's been really good for him.
L sighed in agreement. "Yes, she is." Then she squeezed my hand and grinned. "But then we all have."
I loved this post, Ellie. Made me feel nostalgic for my three exe's. Although we remained friends after the divorce, none of them were ever brave enough to suggest a get-together. But then, we all lived in different cities and now two of the three have gone to the happy hunting ground. The third one is now with #6 (or maybe #7, I can't keep up.)
Posted by: Linda | June 19, 2004 at 09:39 PM
Your beauty is timeless.
Posted by: Lu Ponz | June 22, 2004 at 01:30 PM
Your beauty is timeless.
Posted by: Lu Ponz | June 22, 2004 at 01:30 PM
Is there an echo in here?
Posted by: John | June 22, 2004 at 01:46 PM
Is there an echo in here? :)
Posted by: John | June 22, 2004 at 01:47 PM
Typepad's comment function is acting weird today. Very slow and then double posting.
Posted by: ellie | June 22, 2004 at 01:52 PM
Ba-dum, ching!
Posted by: ellie | June 22, 2004 at 02:06 PM
Thanks, Lu. I so wanted to PhotoShop my upper arms after seeing L's but decided it wasn't fair to the other women unless I air-brushed all of us ;-)
Posted by: ellie | June 22, 2004 at 02:09 PM
The beauty of your upper arms is timeless.
Posted by: Lu Ponz | June 22, 2004 at 07:08 PM
ROFLMAO Lu! You should see my forearms! ;-)
Posted by: ellie | June 22, 2004 at 07:42 PM
With pleasure... send me pix...
Posted by: Lu Ponz | June 22, 2004 at 09:03 PM
Okay...I'm just sayin'...did you get a load of that shirt of his? No wonder you're holding on tight to wife #2 and she's guzzlin' beer! You're trying to save each other from getting sucked into the loud shirt vortex! I mean, forget woman #4...it is, apparently, too late for her.
Okay...just kiddin'. Well, sorta. It is a pretty loud shirt.
...And yes, your beauty is timeless, your beauty is timeless. That, however, is already a given. ;-)
Posted by: The TRUE Bill | June 22, 2004 at 09:54 PM
New reader...fun site.
Posted by: Erika | June 24, 2004 at 06:16 PM
Oh, El, only you, dear one, only you. Bill obviously has excellent taste in women. I've only had one ex husband but various ex lovers over the subsequent years--a few who are married now and never knew I was in the picture because "he" didn't want them to know. Oh the webs we weave. I am often with my ex and his current girlfriend and I'm far more comfortable with that than with his wife after me who the marriage broke up over.
I know you have grieved the loss of Bill mightily--and yet, there you are. That penis up close line was so cool.
Posted by: Fran | June 30, 2004 at 09:50 PM