I quickly pull into a spot in the dark parking lot, my car for once, child-free.
I’m running into the store for eggs and butter, all the things needed to bake a cake for a little girl’s birthday party.
Already tired. Hair disheveled, clothes a mess.
In front of me, a cute, little car with her inside.
She smokes a cigarette. Puffs out the open window.
Her face is young and beautifully made up. Her hair perfect.
That WAS my life.
Now this IS my life.
Her boyfriend hops in the driver’s seat and speeds off.
I go in for my cake makings.
This week’s prompt comes from Galit! I love that, and her! 
This week I want you to conjure something. An object, a person, a feeling, a color, a season- whatever you like. But don’t tell me what it is, conjure it. You have 100 words, use them wisely.
Also linking up with Just Write…
Love this girl! You conjured your moment, where you were and where you are. Love it!
And the disheveled hair- oh my can I *ever* relate to that!
(Thank you also for the mention- love you!)
XO
Great moment … but look at you all Martha baking birthday cakes and being Mother Earth!
Instead of smoking like a skanky ho in a fast car heading somewhere with some no good boy … tramp
Great job with this! I’ve had those moments where I see someone or something and think “that was me” and then realize that my life is so far from that point now. It’s pretty surreal.
I love this, because I have those moments.
One of my girlfriends tells a story about how she was going out with her friends one night, all dressed up and made up, but still driving the mini-van. She thought a young guy in the car next to her was smiling at her, so she smiled back, and he got a weird look on his face, like she was his mom or something.
Though honey, you are gorgeous, disheveled hair or not!
Oh, I sooo know. And how I hate her … In the nicest possible way!
Well put, and so real.
That was my life and is my life.
Love the moment you captured so succinctly and vividly!
mmmmmm, inside my head, I still look like that!
Love this!! That WAS my life too! Once upon a time! But in some weird way I am so glad it’s NOT my life anymore!
Hahaha… I could totally relate to this! *sigh* Can’t beat youth, huh?
Thank goodness for the smile that would for sure be there when the cake is made. THAT smile would make everything worth it
Beautiful. It’s funny, we can look back and remember when we were that girl… but when we WERE that girl, we never imagined what we might be someday.
Ooo…that’s a good moment – I get “resigned” as the tone. Not unhappy, just shouldering the burden and getting it done.
Very nice!
I often wish all my “old” selfs could convene together…just for a day.
Sometimes I think about this in the opposite sense — of what my life could be like. You did such a good job with this.
Sometimes it is hard to see that blast from the past. At least it is for me.
Good job capturing the moment.
Wow,I’ve totally had those moments. Great job conjuring up the moment.
You just described my life to a T. Perfect in every way and I wouldn’t change it.
Although I would like to look less disheveled once in a while.
How do some women look perfect all the time no matter what???
Love this and miss smoking.
This has the feel of a sci-fi novel . . . what if that girl were actually her but from another dimension.
Very, very well done . . . but now I want cake.
Such a great moment. I hope you LOVE the life you have now!
Oh you conjured it all right!! Those moments where we are caught between ourselves then and now….wishing for what we had…celebrating what we had. Somedays I wish the straddle was easier.
GREAT JOB!!!! I really liked this.
Love it E!
I haven’t quite developed a talent for baking, but I wouldn’t go back to my dating days again for anything. But I totally get this moment, and that say a lot t=for the piece. ;D
Shah. X
Sigh. Those days are gone, aren’t they? I wouldn’t trade them, though – most days, anyway. xo
Great job Elaine. I wish I could have the perfect hair and make-up at ALL times…but I’d much rather be buying cake makings for my kids than be single again
That was so me…and I’m sure I used to be that girl who would see a tired, disheveled mom and think to myself when I’m a mom, I’ll ALWAYS look and feel fabulous…
Yeah…not so much
Loved this post!
oh, i love this, elaine!! sometimes, i miss being that single girl with great skin and a cigarette in one hand.
So much fun! Love this. And I know it. Down to the cigarette, which I smoked at her age. But not mine.
Perfectly written! I feel that exact same way when I drive by the high school at lunch!
I have had this exact moment! Only, I don’t have any children and have ZERO excuse for putting myself on the backburner and upping my frumpty dumpty factor. I could see the look on your face as you watched them drive away!
I sort of want both lives.
and isn’t it strange how the girl in the car and the disheveled cake-maker are both YOU…
all our lives and stages, all bundled up in heart-gut.
yeah…
Someday, if that girl’s lucky, she really will be you.