My Party Girls
Several weeks ago Jilly invited 8 of her friends to come to the house Saturday afternoon to get ready for a school chums’ Bar Mitzvah.
They had all attended the services in the morning and when I picked them up we went out to lunch before we came home. As soon as we got to the house they all ran upstairs and I didn’t see them again until 6:30 when it was time to go to the Country Club for the party. They were dressed, polished, made-up, hair straightened, curled and put up and the perfume was enough to bring tears to my eyes. We had so many of them at the house that Bob and I each had to transport a group. I had about 5 girls in my car and no sooner had I turned on the engine then Jilly was at the radio and found her station and turned it up loud. Really loud. I was rocking down the road like a punk ass kid. And then it happened. A sweet little song by Taylor Swift came on. It is called “Love Story” and instantaneously every little girl sang in perfect unison, and in perfect pitch at the top of her little teenage voice. There I was with all these little beauties and they were singing so beautifully and with such innocence.
And it went like this.
We were both young when I first saw you.
I close my eyes and the flashback starts:
I’m standing there on a balcony in summer air.
See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns.
See you make your way through the crowd
and say hello;
Little did I know
That you were Romeo; you were throwing pebbles,
And my daddy said, “Stay away from Juliet.”
And I was crying on the staircase,
begging you, ‘Please, don’t go.’”
And I said,
“Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.
I’ll be waiting; all there’s left to do is run.
You’ll be the prince and I’ll be the princess
It’s a love story – baby just say ‘Yes.’”
So I sneak out to the garden to see you.
We keep quiet ’cause we’re dead if they knew.
So close your eyes; escape this town for a little while.
‘Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter,
And my daddy said “Stay away from Juliet,”
But you were everything to me; I was begging you, ‘Please, don’t go,’”
And I said,
“Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.
I’ll be waiting; all there’s left to do is run.
You’ll be the prince and I’ll be the princess
It’s a love story – baby just say ‘Yes.’
Romeo save me – they’re tryin’ to tell me how to feel;
This love is difficult, but it’s real.
Don’t be afraid; we’ll make it out of this mess.
It’s a love story – baby just say “Yes.’”
Oh.
I got tired of waiting,
Wondering if you were ever comin’ around.
My faith in you was fading
When I met you on the outskirts of town,
And I said,
“Romeo save me – I’ve been feeling so alone.
I keep waiting for you but you never come.
Is this in thy head? I don’t know what to think-”
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said,
“Marry me, Juliet – you’ll never have to be alone.
I love you and that’s all I really know.
I talked to your dad – go pick out a white dress;
It’s a love story – baby just say ‘Yes.’”
It was so cute, just ike I always pictured it – all the litle girls, the dresses, the excitement of going to a fancy party and of course, the singing, I felt like Maria in “The Sound of Music”. I acutally had some tears over the whole thing.
And then as soon as it started it was over, three and one half minutes later, the song was over. Another song came on and they started singing again, with just as much enthusiasm, and they knew all the words to the new song playing on the radio. I, on the other hand had never heard it and could not place the lyrics so I looked down at the radio and this is the name of the song I saw printed out on the screen.
“Spoon Me Bitch”
How fast they grow up! Right before my very eyes, which were no longer welling up with warmth and sweet memories.
Rock on girls!
Faux Farm Girl.
Annie