What Would Jean Do?

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Every once in a while, I feel like I’m Tom Hanks in “Cast Away.” My house becomes a small unknown island in the Pacific Ocean (Isle of the Unemployed), I’m its only inhabitant (my former company crashed, so I was cast away) and the cats and dog are little boars that run wild on the island who keep me company when I’m not scaling trees for coconuts, hunting fish with my spear crafted out of a stick, or trying to figure out how to use all of Iz’s Barbie dolls to make a raft to leave the island. Sometimes I think it’s a paradise, but then every once in a while, it becomes a place of loneliness and frustration.

Last Friday, I got an opportunity to go out for the evening with a friend, who like me, is on a island, a neighboring island. Usually, I don’t like to go out on weekend nights when Nathan is around, but he was off with friends. So, I decided it would be a good time to leave the island for a bit using my Barbie doll flippers; Iz needs to get into Legos if I’m ever going to be able to make a raft. Besides, who can resist the lure of a luau with food and drink, entertainment (shiny trinkets to hang from your ears, neck, and wrist), and, most importantly, the good company of a fellow cast away.

Before you think I left the house wearing a grass skirt and a lei, I confess that it wasn’t a luau that I went to. Actually, for women 25-65 who live in the suburbs, it might be a different version of a luau; it was a jewelry party. And, a jewelry party is probably the last thing an unemployed person wants to attend, right?

When I began to read my friend’s email and saw “vintage-inspired jewelry party,” I cringed. While I liked the sound of “vintage-inspired jewelry,” “party” meant money that I had but shouldn’t really spend. When I continued to read and saw “no obligation to buy,” I knew I was confident enough to attend the party and not feel pressured like I had felt at past Longaberger, Tupperware, and Princess House parties. Then she added, “It could be fun. Lots of gals, wine, and food.”

I thought about it. I hadn’t seen her for a while, and she was right. It sounded like fun. Since my middle name had been “Grumpy,” “Mopey,” and “Couch Potato” (the Three Dwarfs of Unemployment) instead of Marie, I knew I had to put on my Barbie Doll flippers and swim over to her island. She was right; it could be fun and intriguing and then she said, “Plus, my friend lives in this fabulous million-dollar house.”

It’s funny how everyone has a different opinion of these kinds of parties. I went to a Longaberger party many years ago, had some punch and told myself that I wouldn’t buy anything because I had just bought my house; the next thing I knew, I had bought a $100 recipe box. Upon return from the party, John said, “Aha! They get you drunk so you’ll buy stuff.” Of course, after he had a few glasses of wine one night, “Love Songs of the 70s” ended up in the mailbox the next week; thus, no one is immune to drinking and shopping!

Another friend of mine is convinced that these parties are like medicine shows. “If you wear this necklace, it will make you look just like Meg Ryan after her plastic surgery.” Of course, I would immediately put that necklace down. I swear he was convinced that I’d be selling Amway after being subjected to a “once in a lifetime opportunity” as he put it!

Anyway, after a rendezvous in a parking lot, I climbed into my friend’s car and was immediately handed a bag in which I found Hello Kitty pajamas; the shirt proclaimed “Born to be Famous.” It made my week, because my usual island pajamas, which were fashioned out of palm fronds, ended up in the black hole of the tidal pool in which I did my laundry. Like major appliances, Nature can be unforgiving too!

As we drove to the luau spot, we caught up on our island happenings. It seems more was happening on her island which had her a bit frustrated, and it seemed a lot less was happening on my island which had me a bit frustrated, too. As we continued to talk, it appeared that this night was a very good night for a party and a few drinks housed in coconut shells out of which sprouted little blue and pink umbrellas.

When we arrived at the driveway for the home, I saw the house to the right. Apparently, this was not the house, and, as we headed down the driveway, it appeared that this was really two driveways, one for the house I saw and the other for the house I couldn’t even see yet. We drove up a hill and reached a plateau; I looked for the house.

We climbed again, and reached another plateau. I was then beginning to feel like I was on an island, Fantasy Island! Where was this house?!

We turned a corner, and there it was. It was a huge home that was covered in beautiful stone and reminded me somewhat of a Tudor house. We got out of the car and filed into the house after a few other grass-skirt wearing luau attendees. It was the largest home I had ever been in, and I do believe the kitchen was as big as the entire downstairs of my house.

So, my friend was right. It had already been fun getting my Hello Kitty pajamas and seeing this fabulous house. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, I had a glass of wine in my hand, a few Fritos in my mouth, and I was perusing some lovely trinkets.

I didn’t know any of the women at the party. I got the impression that they were not inhabiting islands like my friend and I were. After some obligatory socializing, my friend and I ended up in a corner of the kitchen chatting about island living.

At one point, we were talking about how lonely it can be on our islands sometimes and then she said to me, “Last week, I was rather upset, and I felt like crying.” I said, “Every now and then, I feel like that, too.” She said, “Then I thought, what would Jean do?!”

I almost choked on my Fritos then. I asked, “Really?!” She said, “So, I got up, got out the vacuum, and after I cleaned my whole downstairs, I felt better. I got a little exercise too.” I was still standing there amazed that someone would think about what I would do, because most of my life, I had always asked others, “What would you do?”

I knew that in addition to the PJs, the house, and my friend’s wonderful company, she made the night special for me in another way. I was glad that what I had written had made her feel better; however, her words gave me tremendous strength in return. Thinking about the last year, I had not been beaten, though at times it felt like I had been; above all, I had become self-reliant and she made me realize it just then.

Certainly, there have been many wonderful friends along the way who have propped me up a lot when I’ve been down. And, I had let myself get seduced by the couch and Law & Order every now and then. But, when the island was its loneliest and I had no hope of escaping, I could always count on myself to find my own way, even if the only way out was temporary.

That night, I realized again that I wasn’t alone. Every now and then, I feel like I'm on an island, but no one is really a cast away. Sometimes, I really think the challenge is becoming a piece of the continent without losing your island. ♥

"He is the best sailor who can steer within fewest points of the wind, and exact a motive power out of the greatest obstacles." ~ Henry David Thoreau

So What Did You Buy If Anything Note: There was no pressure whatsoever. Though, they did try and convince me to become a representative. I didn’t buy anything for myself. I bought something for a friend, so that makes it more financially acceptable, right?! ♥