Wednesday 22 July 2009

The Parting Kiss

Quarter to six, the alarm cuts through my beauty sleep like a
butcher's knife. I remember a nightmare and shudder, the football
season had started but I had forgotten to register my fantasy football
team. What could be worse? Lie there blinking, contemplating the
late train for an extra hour in bed. Should I stay or should I go?
Creep through to the kitchen, closing doors gently so as not to wake
the baby. Drain cafetiere while catching up on blogs. Wander onto
balcony, the morning sun makes the river so beautiful. In the
distance the rolling downs are a luscious green. A pack of squawking
gulls chase a fishing boat up the river. Tempted to join them, fish
for breakfast would be sublime. The morning tranquillity stills my
soul. Wash, dress, down a glass of juice, pack my bag. Creep back to
bedroom, give sleeping wife a goodbye kiss.

"Too bristly," she says, and turns away.

54 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, at least she has the decency not to kiss you until after she's shaved.

Joanie said...

Love that comment, jpooh!

Samsmama said...

Whatever witty or comforting comment I was going to leave just got knocked out of my head after reading jpooh's contribution. And what can I say? I like a little stuble.

Unknown said...

very bittersweet...very real

and I now have that Clash song stuck in my head..

This indecisions bugging me
Esta undecision me molesta....

Favorite line in that song

Peace - Rene

the girl with the pink teacup said...

Oh, what a beautiful morning, mo. Bristly Lady Mo included :)

(I think jpooh has tainted this comment thread forevermore. Excellent.)

Alyson said...

Hahaha! Yes, it seems your lovely post has been overshadowed by jpooh's comment. Ah well!

diane said...

Crap, that was beautiful.

If I stay it will be trouble.
If I go it will be double.

Mr London Street said...

If yours is anything like mine Mo, "too bristly" covers every period of time except the first hour after shaving.

Mary said...

Damn Not the Rockefellers! I love that line too...
I'll have to go with:
don;t you know which clothes even fit me

Pseudo said...

I love the contemplation, the moment of pausing before the possibilites.

Paired with reality for the sublime.

Well done MO!

Unknown said...

i love your wife.

cranky in the mornings, hates a bristly kiss, laughs while you get naked in the car...

we could be related maybe?

andy:)

Eric said...

Wait, so seagulls eat fish then? That explains a lot...

Girl Interrupted said...

Lovely little vignette, Mo ... and beautifully set up for giving jpooh the chance to deliver what must now be one of the all-time classic comments ;)

Everyday Goddess said...

Women!

jmt said...

Agreed. Jpooh just added a special element to your already delightful post. Shame on you for not shaving.

Gwen said...

The mentions your wife has gotten in this blog do not leave the best impression and yet I just know she has to be lovely because it appears she has chosen to stay and take your ribbing.

Unknown said...

hahaha, THAT broke the tranquility

Unknown said...

jpooh...hahahah, great comment!

Harmony said...

Oh Mo, didn't you know that you cannot start off the day in a tranquil state? Seriously, it could lead to great upset.

Can you imagine suddenly feeling full with optimism, only to have to bear a major upset halfway through your work day? A total state of shock would leave you feeling battered and bruised for the remainder of the day. Irreconcilable even.

Your wife deserves a proper thanking, as she intercepted any impending doom you may have brought upon yourself with all that "dreaming" you did this morning.

Call Me Cate said...

jpooh wins the internets. That is all.

Laura said...

I always vote stay. Unless it's a horrific hook-up. Then the answer is always go.

I liked this post- nice style!

Anonymous said...

Women are just trouble, trouble I tell ya ...

ladytruth said...

No one can compete with that glimmer of brilliance jpooh floored us all with. But I'm still going to say that a little "bristly kiss" can be a very sexy thing, just look at desert chef Eric Lanlard: to die for ... ;)

MJenks said...

Next time, use a backbrush instead of your mouth. We'll see what she has to say about "too bristly" then.

Cora said...

Awwww, no. :-(

Simon Butler said...

Damnit! Jpooh stole my planned comment…

Slyde said...

that was ME you kissed... you entered the wrong room again....

Stacy Uncorked said...

The great comment I had in my head disappeared like a popped bubble after reading jpooh's comment... :)

Madame DeFarge said...

Yup, jpooh stole my thoughts exactly. I'd like them back please.

JennyMac said...

I am down with the growth. I think my hub looks smoking hot with it. And I want a kiss goodbye everyday no matter what.

Hit 40 said...

LOL!!! I was enjoying your sing song rhythm of words...

then your wife rudely stopped the happy flow.

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

LOL She says all the right things to you, doesn't she? :D

"Wander onto balcony, the morning sun makes the river so beautiful. In the distance the rolling downs are a luscious green. A pack of squawking
gulls chase a fishing boat up the river." - Who'd want to go to work after that? :)

Debbie said...

Love the posts and the witty comments. Sometimes it is better to be late to the blog party for this very reason!

Ananda girl said...

Great laugh at the end. Unexpected despite the title. I like your wife, Mo. You almost forgot to shave! Good woman. Keen insights.
You did go shave didn't you?

Kimberly Wright said...

LMAO at all the comments!!!

blognut said...

Nuthin' worse than a bristly kiss. It chafes my soul.

Michel said...

AHHHH marriage! it's soooo romantic!

Fancy Schmancy said...

Ohhh, so sweet, until the last sentence. And jpooh's comment.

Liz Wilkey (a.k.a. A Mom on Spin) said...

I guess you needed more beauty sleep!

Fragrant Liar said...

That was the most lovely vision of a placid morning I've read in a long time.

And I love JPooh's comment.

Tristan Robin said...

gotta love that first comment! LOL

Chris said...

Ah yes, Fantasy Football season is nearly upon us. I'm in a semi-keeper league and I'm trying to figure out which three guys to protect. Brees, for sure. DeAngelo Williams, definitely. But do I keep Boldin or Gore? Hmmmm.

Amy said...

Fantasy Football over there too?

Vodka Mom said...

that was a lovely post.

But did you get your team registered or not???

Organic Meatbag said...

I won my American FF league last year for the first time...sweeeeeeet! I'm freaking out wondering how I'm going to handle my team when I am on vacation in late September...ahhh, such are the worries of the football fanatic...hahaha!

ellen abbott said...

Hey Mo. Great blog. I've visited before but this time I read several. And, thanks for visiting mine. Hope to see you again.

Valerie said...

very beautiful. of course because of jpooh I am thinking about a woman with stubble.

Soda and Candy said...

Awwww

Captain Dumbass said...

You can never ever win.

p-huong said...

Yum. Fish. I forgot to buy smoked salmon while I was at the market yesterday. Thanks for the reminder.

Women.. we definitely know how to ruin a moment.

Peggy said...

Look at you! You're a blog rock star!

Loved this by the way!

xoxo

Kate said...

Sounds like a good morning!

tennysoneehemingway said...

I wish my early mornings started that pleasently.

Frogs in my formula said...

I guess it's better than "You have fishbreath"?

Sweet, still.

As I have quite a few new readers since I became a "Jelly Biter" I've put this up here again. To understand the context you must read this post!