If you are unfamiliar with the Bridget Jones's Diary series, you are missing out on the musings of a wonderfully charming character. Bridget speaks her mind and consequently lives at times with her foot in her mouth, makes questionable choices that are always lessons in the making, and struggles with her love life because she wears her heart on her sleeve. If you know Bridget, then you know of her girdle drama, making an arse out of herself in social situations, frequent awkward moments, her need for love, and her huge heart.
I think there is a little Bridget Jones in all of us.
I will never forget the summer in between my sophomore and junior years in high school when THE boy that made my heart go pitty-pat finally asked me out. Since I had already planned our wedding and named our children, you would have thought the immediate response would be an overwhelming “yes” complete with fireworks and air hearts, but instead I made the most horrific facial sneer like a dog smelling nail polish remover. I can still see his slightly shocked and damaged expression. I have no idea where my response came from, but the damage was permanent.
My old, beloved dog Roxy was the best judge of character. When a suitor she didn’t like paid me a visit, she would poop in their shoes. She never shat in nice people’s shoes, only the asshats that I should have stayed away from to begin with. The only thing that could have made it more Bridget Jones-ish is if Roxy were a cat.
Once in a bookstore in Ireland, I found an out-of-print book I had been looking for for a while. The shopkeeper, in a deep brogue, asked me why I wanted that particular book. My response was a rant on how I thought the author was crazy and his opinion on the subject was so off that I just needed to have the book for giggles. When I went to pay, the shopkeeper asked if I wanted him to sign the book. It was at that moment I realized he was the author.
My absolute top Bridget Jones moment was at a hunt ball about 15 years ago with a date I was trying to impress. My date was in deep conversation with a few buddies, and I joined in, attempting to thoughtfully opine on a subject on which I had zero knowledge. I made a memorable impression on my date and his cronies not with my wit and charm but rather when I stepped backwards and fell into a trashcan. My bum was on the bottom with the discarded desserts and collection of beer bottles, and my arms and legs were flailing at the rim trying to gain freedom, but alas, I was stuck. In a giant trashcan. The gentlemen around me, instead of dashing to my rescue, took a moment to point and laugh before winching me out.
Bridget Jones moments happen to everyone. If you haven’t embraced your own, perhaps you need to lighten up a titch. Humility is one of life’s most delicious lessons, best served with a side of laughter.
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