In this week's entry I invite you, my beloved readers, to journey back with me to one of the most profound events to ever touch my generation.
I am speaking, of course, about the episode of 90210 in which Brenda gets robbed while doing her homework at the Peach Pit and then goes to a PTSD counselor to learn about her 'safe place'.
I beg you to stop whatever you are doing right now and devote the next several minutes to praying that I am able to find the clip on YouTube.
Success!
*celestial music of Thanksgiving*
OK - there is good news and bad news.
The bad news is that I could only find the entire episode. This means you'll have to let it load before you can scroll to the 32-minute mark and experience the scene I'm referencing. Which is annoying.
The good news is that the scene in question is roughly 400 times more bizarre and spectacular than I even remembered.
For those of you not willing to go through this process (hi mom!) I will briefly summarize:
Our program's heroine, Brenda Walsh, has been robbed by a shotgun wielding maniac (played by a male model with the appropriate amount of facial scruff to denote a deeply troubled soul). After the hold-up, Brenda starts acting all crazy, so her parents send her to see a 'post-traumatic stress disorder' therapist.
The therapist asks Brenda to recall a place where she felt completely happy and explains to her that this will be her "safe place." In response, Brenda shuts her eyes and smiles as she pictures herself as a little girl riding a horse.
The scene is adorable and bucolic - - UNTIL THE ROBBER POPS UP OUT OF NOWHERE AND HOLDS A SHOTGUN TO LITTLE-GIRL-BRENDA'S HEAD!!
Brenda snaps out of the happy memory and shouts in terror,
"He's in my safe place!"
Again, you must watch the clip. No description can do it justice, I assure you.
At this point you are likely wondering what this trip down bad-90's-TV memory lane has to do with having a baby under the age of one (ostensibly the topic of this blog).
Well - I'll tell you.
Lately I find myself getting out more and more with the Snoods, which is good. But I also find myself oft-confronted with the way certain activities have changed now that I have a 'baby-on-board'.
A Yoga class, which used to be relaxing 'me time' is now 'baby and me time', with less meditating and more unmitigated shrieking/face gnawing.
A weekend getaway that used to involve concerns about spa amenities or ocean views now involves calculations about whether or not the bathroom is large enough to house the portable crib.
The examples go on and on, and each time I'm faced with yet another moment where the Snood is "influencing" a situation I used to enjoy, a single phrase comes to mind and I, too am tempted to shout aloud:
"He's in my safe place!"
Now before I go on, let me clarify by saying that I am in no way attempting to compare my adorable infant son to a shotgun-wielding maniac.
But as I found myself taking more frequent forty-five minute showers to get some time away from an apartment that has been completely overtaken by cribs, jumperoos and other assorted multi-colored baby-friendly apparatuses or lingering in the silence of a restaurant bathroom in search of a couple of moments of down-time while my husband watched the baby, I began to think that it might be time for a break.
And so last Saturday David and I went away for exactly 28 hours.
We slept without needing to leave one ear open in case the baby cried!
We had dinner with friends without keeping an eye on the clock to meet a babysitter's deadline!
I even wore pants THAT BUTTONED AT THE WAIST!
(not actual waist)
As my husband and I walked the grounds of our hotel, preparing for our return home, both of us agreed that it seemed as if we had been away for weeks.
We'd found our 'safe place' and it was heaven!
Coming home was surprisingly great, as well. After only a night away sans baby we found ourselves rushing home, beyond anxious to see our little boy. We sprang out of the car and both fought for any chance to cuddle our beloved Snood.
Reunited and it felt so good!
And who knows when we'll be able to do it again? Hotels rooms are expensive and schedules get tight so it may be a while.
But even just knowing that we have a 'safe place' out there should we ever need it has made an amazing difference.
In closing, please allow me to sum up the most important revelation this experience has afforded me. I can only hope it does as much for you as it has for me...
EVERY EPISODE OF THE ORIGINAL 90210 IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE ON YOUTUBE!!!!
I hereby accept your thanks in advance. Happy viewing!
