Insane Courage and Minivans

I just got home from a night on the town!

It’s a pretty exciting day for me. I’ll likely have to peel myself out of bed tomorrow as penance for my fun, but I suppose that’s the price you have to pay when you dare to do something after 7 p.m. at night.

A group of gals — all moms — and I got together and saw the movie, “We bought a Zoo.” A few bits of profanity and some creepy artwork will keep me from showing it to the kids, but overall it was a great movie!

One bit of the script was so compelling to me I had to write it down. There I am, texting myself in the theater, my hands holding my phone down in the space between the seat and the arm of the chair, praying I didn’t get attacked via voodoo for texting during the movie.

So far, so good. No mysterious pains to report.

Here’s what I had to write down: “If you can muster up 20 seconds of insane courage — just 20 seconds of embarrassing bravery! — great things will happen.”

Isn’t that amazing? And true?! How many times have you let significant moments pass you by because you didn’t have the nerve to say what needed to be said?

On the flip side, how many times have you practiced that insane courage and discovered that simple 20 seconds of embarrassing bravery propelled you into a course of action that has made your life undeniably better?!

Genius, I tell you. Genius defined by strong words and 20 simple seconds.

After the movie we decided to visit the college coffee shop. It’s winter break, of course, so it was pretty slow at the establishment.

The place was very trendy, totally organic, and had a complete wall full of tea. I didn’t even know what the flavors of the ones sporting a Hindu goddess meant (seriously, what flavor is “happiness” or “woman’s tea”? I’m just not that cool.) I chose jasmine and it was a good choice for the evening.

As we were leaving I realized we were the only cars left in the parking lot. Three Suburbans and a minivan.

Yep, it was a meeting of moms. It’s a select group of women who, every once in awhile, drop their mom personas and talk to other women about life, liberty and the pursuit of established potty training.

Then we get back in our multi-passenger vehicles, drive home, and prepare for a new day filled with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, overseeing tooth brushing, and kissing boo-boos.

I was grateful for the night.

Do you have a story of 20 seconds of insane courage or embarrassing bravery? I’d like to hear it!