Pie In The Face

I was talking with someone a while back who used the word “dramatic” as she described me. 

“You’re dramatic. But not as dramatic as….” her voice trailed off as that sentence took me by surprise. 

“Me?”

“Dramatic?”

“Really?”

“Hmmm, am I?”

“So and so is the description of dramatic!”

 “Am I like that?!”

“Ugh, am I being dramatic right now?”

And on and on and on my inner dialogue went. 

I mean, dramatic?! Dramatic to me means…. 

“Makes a big deal out of everything, high maintenance, blowing things out of proportion, extreme.” 

Something I don’t want to be described as. 

So, in that moment, for a tenth of a second, I felt horrified that someone would describe me that way. However, my instant response was…

“Dramatic? I wouldn’t say I’m dramatic, I would say I’m animated.”  

That I resonate with!!

I’m really animated!  

But, quite honestly, I don’t mean to be it just kind of happens. Matter of fact, prior to that conversation, I had just told another friend of mine that I was obsessed with the Carol Burnette show growing up. How I felt that a lot of my personality may actually be formed from that show and how it probably contributes to my sense of humor and animated ways. As a kid, I would imitate her expressions, I new every line, I would use my tape recorder (yep, you heard me, a cassette track tape recorder) put it right next to the TV, carefully hit record and play at the same time, just so I could record an entire show thinking…

  “The next time I get grounded I’ll at least be able to listen to it.” (True story) 

That may be where it all began actually.

That may be where the desire to have a pie thrown in my face came from. Every once in a while an episode had a scene where someone got it right in the face. Why I thought that was so funny, I’ll never really know, but I seriously thought…..

“I want that!”

Then we grow up right?! And we start to forget about these little things we felt like doing when we were kids, until the night last summer when I was out with friends. And, because when I’m with these friends I start feeling sillier by the second, that out of my mouth comes…

 “I’ve always wanted a pie in the face.” 

Now looking back, I’m left wondering how it came up in conversation. Did I randomly just blurt it out and if I did, why would I do that?! Did something prompt me to say it? Or, was it the Fireball that made me say it so bodly!? We’ll never know what made me say it out loud but the laughter that followed that sentence and the tilt of the heads with that “Wait, what? Who says that?” look on their faces well, we laughed pretty good at that and then I heard one of them say “We can totally make that happen.” And we keep laughing and sharing and then, I forget about it. 

Totally.

I thought we all did. 

Completely. 

Months go by. I’m at one of my favorite events of the year. Our friends host this amazing GobbleGobbleShoinkfest and it’s delicious fried turkey, some shuck oysters, there may be a pig roasting or brats all the way from Wisconsin on the grill along with all the potluck side dishes you could want for. There’s usually an ice sculpture to do shots out of because, well, of course we need that. There’s corn hole being played and music rocking and it’s the kind of party that makes ya’ have a cocktail in your hand because as my friend Tim says “Somethings aren’t worth discussing without a cocktail.” (And ya know, I’ll agree with that.) The kind of party where the lights strung through the trees, along with the fire pit, keep the party going when the sun goes down and it was THEN when I saw the table being set up for a serious competition of  Flip Cup. 

I looked right at my guy and said out loud…

“I’m not playing!” 

But as that sentence was coming out of my mouth, I heard my girlfriend simultaneously call my name from across the yard for me to come over for practice because I’m on her team. 

Now…didn’t you, right now reading this, didn’t you JUST hear me say “I’m not playing?!” 

But, I don’t hesitate. It’s sweet Sylina and she’s asked me and I’m not saying “No” to her. I start practicing because it’s been a while and well, I’m competitive and I’m not great at this game. I’m completely focused on flipping my cup and yet, it’s not going well. I’ve tried a few times and my nerves are kicking in because I’m on a team and can’t let them down. I’m starting to hear my inner critic in my head, “Didn’t I just say to Chris I’m not playing?!” And as I practice again and again and again re-setting my tipped cup each time, I feel a tap on my shoulder. I’m kind of busy though so I take my time turning around and as I do, it’s now feeling like fast motion and I’m not sure exactly what I see, I just see something coming right at me. I can’t quite focus on what it is, but my uncontrollable instinct is to back away, so I do, and then it becomes completely clear what’s happening and I think I hear myself say “Oh sh#*!!!” as the cold, wet, soft, sweet fluffy cream hit me on the side of my face and in my hair and then one more hit, boom, right to the face.  

I’m hysterical laughing. 

I’m loving this moment.

I’m now squealing and trying to hug them for it. I love they planned it and I love even more that I forgot about it. You guys, it was marked on their calendars planned it, planned it. As in “Connie – pie in the face day” plan.  

They completely surprised me and made this crazy daydream come true. 

In this moment, maybe “dramatic” would be the exact word to describe my behavior because the squeals that came out of me, the laughter, the persistent need to try to hug them and thank them, well it all felt VERY dramatic. 

This is why we need our friends though. 

This is why we need to be ourselves with them as animated as we may be because with good friends, they’re there for us and our crazyass day dreams as big or small as they are. From our shenanigans to our serious decisions and discussions. The kind of friends that just get your sense of humor, dig the same music or maybe even turn ya’ on to crazy cool different kind of music too. Friends to share, enjoy, laugh and cry with and of course have a cocktail or a simple cup of tea with.

Time with friends. 

It’s time well spent and where dreams absolutely do come true because they help make them happen. 

Be yourself. 

Be animated.

Be quietly content or maybe even aloof. 

Be whatever makes you your beautiful self, unless it is dramatic, don’t be that, because well, nobody likes a drama queen.

#Beyourself

#Embraceit

#Punta6#AllTheGang#soulsisters&brothers

#lifeisbetterwithyou

 

Special Thanks To: Tim Lindstrom who came all the way from Wisconsin, to not just deliver kickass brats, but great laughs and conversations over cocktails. Sylina Phelan & Amy Lindstrom-Reagan I cannot thank you enough for making dreams come true and laughs that last a lifetime.

Side Note: Dramatic according to YourDictionary.com: 

“The definition of dramatic is exciting or filled with emotion or energy.”

But if  ya’ want a TOTAL crackup, read Urban Dictionary’s descriptions of “Dramatic” because that’s some funny stuff.