To paraphrase the Scottish poet, Robert Burns..."The best laid plans of mice and men do oft go awry." I think he must have had me in mind when he penned his famous words so long ago. As I sit here and recall the events that led up to my somewhat happy realization that I'm not yet over the hill and I still can turn a young man's fantasy into reality. I guess a detailed account of the events that led up to a particular eye opening weekend is in order.
My name is Rachel Carson...formerly Mrs. Charles Carson of twenty two years of not so wedded bliss and a two year separation. It was just last month when our divorce was finalized and our marriage was officially terminated and there was no celebrating on my part, but then, Charles didn't celebrate either. In a way, we still love one another, but events overtook us and I guess we were caught in the middle. I won't bore the reader with the sordid details, but I'll just say that Charles had a tough time keeping his "Johnson" in his pants. Bill Clinton and my husband could have shared notes, but at least Charles "fessed up" to his many affairs. However, six affairs in the past four years is a tad too many in my book and I was happy to be rid of the two timing bastard.
Anyway, back to the story that you came here to read about. As mentioned, my name is Rachel and I'm a forty eight year old middle aged mother of a beautiful twenty four year old daughter named Janet. She unlike me, her shy conservative mother, lives life to the fullest and never looks back. Janet just got her master's degree in media science this past June and works for a PR firm in a nearby city. She has been living on her own for about two years since graduating from college and has a rather hectic social life...she's always going somewhere and doing something exciting. I guess she has to attend many parties and gatherings in order to promote whom ever her company represents. As it so happened, "Mixed Media" the PR firm she works for, was handling the publicity for Shawn Collins...a well known up and coming local rock star. I had no idea that he and my daughter were seeing each other on the sly...but if I did, I would have made my opinions heard and heard quite often. Janet probably guessed that I wouldn't take too kindly to her new flame and that's why she held off telling me for so long.
My daughter got burned many times and I'm always amazed that she never learns from her relationship mistakes. An honor student in both high school and college, and now as a savvy public relations woman, she can be pretty dumb when it comes to the opposite sex. Her previous relationship lasted only two months...but that would be considered long term for her. So, it came as a shock to say the least, when two weeks ago, she revealed the new man in her life...to me. Since this bomb was dropped in my lap, I did my on-line research and looked up every thing I could find on Shawn Collins...mainly fan club stuff. To say this twenty six year old youngster is marriage material is a matter of open debate because he's been engaged too many times to keep an accurate count. To be honest, I think I object more to his relationship record than his profession as a rock star.
I was sick just thinking what they were doing in the privacy of Janet's apartment. She's a young, attractive and vibrant woman while he's a remorseless womanizer and my mind boggles at the thought of what my daughter could possibly see in him. I know she lost her virginity in high school and it took me a long time to deal with that, but still, I can't help feel he is totally wrong for her.
It was about a week ago when Janet talked me into going on a "get to know you" weekend retreat at a casino resort near by. I reluctantly agreed but made one stipulation...that she and her boy friend had to sleep in separate rooms and I was adamant about this. I may be 5'6" and 135 lbs soaking wet, but I can be a hellcat when I'm protecting my only child. Janet made all the arrangements and since we all lived miles apart, we agreed to meet at the resort since it was centrally located.
It was a beautiful late summer day when I arrived at the
Whispering Pines Casino and Resort
. I had to roll my eyes and wonder how much this was costing my financially well off, but naïve daughter and was she paying for his room as well? I pulled my modest sized overnight bag from my trunk and went it to register.
"I believe you have a room reserved for Mrs. Rachel Carson? My daughter might have it under her name...Janet Carson?" I asked as I tried to get a sneak peek at the monitor. The cute male desk clerk smiled and said,
"Oh yes, Mrs. Carson...here it is...three separate rooms?"
"That's correct. Um, did my daughter check in yet?"
"No...you're the first of your party to arrive."
"I see. Well, I'll wait for my daughter over there..."
"Would you like your bag taken up to your room, Mrs. Carson?" I smiled and really didn't want to lug it around and said,
"Thank you, that'll be wonderful."
I tipped the bellboy who was standing near by a five dollar tip and thanked him as well. The lobby was large with many comfortable high back chairs and I picked one that had the best view of the front desk. I didn't want to miss Janet when she arrived. About an hour later, no Janet and I was becoming concerned that she forgot what time we were to meet. Just then, a scruffy young man walked up to the front desk and suddenly my heart took a leap up into my throat. This couldn't be Janet's dream man? No freakin way? His appearance defied description. Where do I begin...with his many tattoos...his long dirty hair...his unshaven face? What was my daughter thinking? The pit of my stomach felt like a fist was slammed into it as I saw the desk clerk point towards me and the scruffy young man nodded and walked towards me.
"Oh God, oh my God...I wish I was home right now," I said under my breath.
"Hello...you must be Mrs. Carson? I'm Shawn Collins...Janet's boy friend?" I extended my hand and faked a smile and lied,
"Why yes...hello, Shawn. I've heard so much about you."
"That right? I've heard a lot about you as well." I felt like I would start screaming any second when Shawn asked,
"Did Janet get here yet? She called me and told me she was on her way." I glanced at my watch and said,
"No...I arrived an hour ago, but she never showed up. I hope nothing happened." Shawn smiled and reassured me,
"I'm sure she's okay. Your daughter is a pretty capable woman." I wasn't sure how to interpret that. Was he talking metaphorically or telling me in a subtle way that my beautiful daughter was good in bed? I faked a nervous smile and looked at my watch...again and wondered where my daughter got to. Shawn stood there not exactly sure if he should sit down.
"Take a seat Shawn, that's what chairs are for." I said, trying to be the gracious hostess in lieu of my daughter's absence. Shawn put down his travel worn leather overnight bag and sat across from me...looking a bit nervous. Shawn cracked a smile and apologized,
"You must forgive my appearance...I'm still in costume. I just came from a gig." I perked up and asked,
"You're in costume...but...but, all the pictures I've seen of you...you don't look like this?"
"Oh no...my publicity pictures. You thought this is what I look like...damn, I must be convincing. Janet said they made me look like a rebel." Suddenly I felt a bit more at ease with this younger man and asked,
"So, what do you look like in the...real world?" Shawn just laughed and said,
"How about a clean cut, conservative geek?" This I never expected but I still didn't think he was good enough for my beautiful, but woefully naïve daughter. We sat for another hour, but still no Janet. I looked at my watch for the millionth time, smiled at Shawn and said,
