Tricky Wondalund…

What do modern day girls do? Sure, they text a lot, they go shopping, they do their nails more frequently, they wake up at 6am for fitness Boot Camp and put themselves through some seriously rigorous muscular pain.

I just woke up look...

Underlying it all, modern day girls are learning to be empowered with a sense of self and identity. This is not an insult to our mothers in any way, but rather, an evolution of self-image, societal roles and what is simply deemed “cool” and “with it”. I don’t think I have had a conversation with another woman in the last 6 months over the age of 28 that isn’t taking some form of language lessons, training for triathlons, reading cookery books or taking on really difficult things like sewing or car maintenance.

A good cheese plate is also worth a love affair

Eating...but of course! No girl's night is complete without food!

Nadia leads with the amazing salad

What I think of all this? It’s clear that modern women are spending more time alone, hence the ability to invest time and effort in themselves. It is not clear to me which is the chicken or the egg in this particular scenario. It is also not clear to me if we are truly happy, but I think we are learning. And if not anything, it makes the resume quite breathtaking (and muscular). For some reason, the pace of modern living and modern love requires that people “not need” each other. That we find true satisfaction in one-self. That we invest in our own “empty glasses” to “make them full”. I am not an all out proponent, but I am quickly learning that this is a non-negotiable. For some reason, for those with ambition, we inch closer and closer to being as good as men. Which gives us a great sense of satisfaction, but also immediately forces serious flight of male birds. Ironic. So what does a girl do then?  

On some nights, it’s important for girls to hang out together, because modern women still need to share our hopes, our dreams, our fears and our inanimate soft-toy replacement boyfriends. To the theme of Gossip Girl no less, because the fashion is simply inspiring. Headbands rock! We pile into Jenny’s house and munch, goss, winge about how ridiculous that some of us have received more than a handful of marriage proposals within the LAST week and how none are palatable. Hiaks. We live vicariously through each other’s lives, careers and dating life so that there is a cumulative sense of achievement. Any night with the girl’s is also a learning night. Veron is flipping through this totally old-skool text of “The Joy of Sex” and reading out random definitions to us. It’s hysterical, especially since the first random flipping results in the paragraph on FIGHTING.

The Definition of Fighting in Sexual Relations. Hmmmm.

Donkey, Moo Moo and BJ - friends for life and replacement boyfriends

“The occasional arguments that all couples experience would have nothing to do with sex if some couples weren’t directly excited by them” Heyo. That’s rich. I really didn’t reckon that. I am starting to think the Joy of Sex holds answers to life, the universe and everything and that reading Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was a waste of time. Reading Brian Greene’s The Elegant Universe was equally a waste of time. We should all just read The Joy of Sex. J

Beyond the sharing, the hugging and the promises to stay strong for each other or trying to figure out which of our male friends is worthy to be pawned off to the very awesome women that we know, a gossip girl night is about certain lessons, no less in the dating realm. Because some people are obviously better at it than others! I am told that it is best to listen on dates. Perhaps. That men gain greater satisfaction from leading the way. Hrm. That a bit of helplessness can be quite attractive. Ahhh. No wonder I am so hopeless at this particular piece of fabric within our universe.

Ultimately, it’s a wonderful way to spend an evening with our friends. Because beyond the racing around and search for the meaning and purpose of life and love, it’s pretty nice just to switch off, let others do the crying for you and we all hold hands while watching Serena Van Der Woodsen reel through the Upper East Side in her chauffeured black car.

In bed with the right people

I think we should have totally worn our Armanis and done our hair to make this a truly fabulous night, as opposed to our grungy PJs. But, I ain’t complaining. Cos there is no price for friendship and good vibes.

goodnight, goodbye!