Fun Life Suggestion: Let’s Make the Adult Sleepover a Thing
This one might feel a bit random, but it’s a true life experience from this past weekend. A friend came by on Saturday afternoon so we could watch a Zoom wedding of another friend together, and, as they tend to do when you’re in good company, the hours went by quickly. Before we knew it, we were sitting on the couch past 10 pm and she started nodding off fast and furious. Heading home would require a drive clear across town, so there were really only two options: wait for her to get a second wind to feel comfortable enough to get in her car without the fear of falling asleep at the wheel, or have her stay over. Obviously, we prepped the guest room and our (unexpected) adult sleepover commenced.
Of course, last night looked nothing like the sleepovers of yesteryear. We didn’t paint each other nails, talk about boys (well, she did while my old married self listened intently), or stay up all night giggling about all kinds of young girl silliness. We literally went to bed at 10:30 once Charles dug up a spare toothbrush and I walked her through my skincare cabinet, welcoming her to use whatever she pleased.
We woke up the next morning and hung around the kitchen together as I whipped up some avocado spread for some English muffins, fried a few eggs, chopped up some fruit and Charles ran out to get some coffee because we were out. Sunday mornings usually look a bit different around here, so this was a pleasant little treat. The usual rush to make a grocery list and head out to the market was postponed as we sat together eating breakfast, chatting some more about all kind of things and not worrying the least bit about getting back to “real life” and weekend errands.
A few hours later, the slumber party was still in full effect. I splurged and ordered grocery delivery instead of stopping the fun to be responsible, and she and Charles had a ball taking fun portraits together. At one point, I looked up from where I was sitting in the living room and said “I’m so glad we had a little slumber party,” and she agreed wholeheartedly.
It all made me think about why we don’t do these kinds of things more often. I know I personally let the monotony of adult life get the best of me most times. “I need to do this” and “I need to do that” always trumps spontaneity. Of course, things would look very different if either of us had things like pets and kids to care for, but even though, why are we as grown people so rigid?
I remember being a girl, having fun at a friend’s house and not wanting it all to end. We’d beg both our parents for permission to sleep over, waiting for the exhilaration of a “yes.” Of course, now, we are the ones giving ourselves permission, and we so often tell ourselves no. I mean…why? I’m not just talking about a sleepover necessarily. I know most of us prefer to sleep in our own beds, in our own pajamas, in our own homes, but breaking from my boring routine has been so refreshing.
Maybe it would have felt different if I weren’t the one that was home or entertaining. I’m a homebody after all, I probably would have been ready to leave anywhere I may have stayed. But either way, there’s still a lesson here for me: STOP BEING SO BORING AND DO NEW THINGS, ARLYN!
While I’m still highly limited in what I’m allowing myself to do or who I see because the pandemic is still very much real and my comfort level is to be overly cautious, I’m glad for the shake-up. Maybe BECAUSE of the pandemic, I’m glad for the shake-up. Life since March 2020 has been a hamster wheel of work, errands, cleaning, sleeping, walking, virtual calls. Anything new, especially that involves human connection, is a welcomed visitor.
So, that’s my little story from the weekend. Spontaneity feels good, breaking free from self-prescribed rigidity is something I personally need to do much more of. I sincerely doubt anyone gets to the end of their life wishing they had done more errands and been more “responsible.” Let’s revisit what it feels like to be young and exciting. Let’s have some fun, okay?
See you tomorrow, FOAS.