The girl who just can't play it cool

now my parents are in the process of redoing his room. So far, my suggestions have been a fireplace, a bear rug, a trampoline, and bunk beds with a slide. All have been vetoed.

Looking back at those ideas, I think my tastes are caught in between ‘successful rich old man’ and ‘rambunctious 7 year old boy’; which I think is a unique and charming combination every parent should appreciate and nurture in their adult daughter. Once again, my creative spirit is squashed.

Actually, not all my ideas were vetoed. My Dad did agree with me that a bean bag chair in that room would be awesome. Mom (predictably) said no.

“It’s bad for your back.”

So I patiently explained to her that a bean bag chair isn’t actually for sitting. It’s for atmosphere.

the phone rang. I was in the kitchen. My Dad was coming up from the basement. We looked at each other. And then we both sprinted into the living room, trying to beat each other to the phone. I got there just before my Dad. Triumphant, I launched my arm into the air, holding the phone above my head, lording it over him.

And it was at that moment that I realized how bizarre we must have looked, teenage me racing my 60 year old dad to reach the phone first, both of us so eager to answer the call. To us though, a phone call is exciting. Every time someone called, it was like an adventure. You never knew who could be on the other end. We both love surprises, unexpected visitors, disruptions, change, noise, strangers. A telephone call meant all of this to us. It’s mysterious and exciting. It’s loud and disruptive. A second ago it was just you. Now suddenly there’s someone else in the room with you. That’s pretty damn magical. I miss the surprise. No one calls each other anymore.

Sam Smith had just won his second Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album (what a mouthful), and his speech was really endearing. He said how he tried to do so many things to get people to listen to his music- he tried to lose weight, he tried to be different but he only started to find success when he learned to just be himself. It was a really sweet thing to hear. My Mom added to this tender moment by saying,

“See Jess, all you have to do is be yourself. But maybe bring it down a bit because…you know…you can be a bit much.”