This year one of my besties, Melinda, found herself to be unexpectedly pregnant. Which, really, is typically no big deal, right? Happens all the time. But the difference here is that she's 41.
Now, she's been engaged to a wonderful man, Kevin, for a few yrs now, and they bought a home together and rehabbed it to lovely perfection. So we're talking about a stable relationship here. A couple planning a future.
A couple who, between then, have four adult children.
I know, right?
Our other bestie, Elaine, and I shed tears of joy when she told us, and we simply cannot wait to meet and hold this precious little person. But it hasn't been an easy ride for Melinda thus far. This pregnancy has been vasty different than her first and there are days she's just miserable. But I have to admit we've had some fun teasing her; mocking is a form of affection in this group, and it's understood that laughing at less than perfect circumstances takes the sting out of them.
Yep, it was all fun and games until she learned from her OB/GYN that, in the land of obstetrics, she is considered an elderly pregnancy.
Dead serious, elderly. El. Der. Ly. Their term, not ours.
Melinda was quick to point out to the doc, and anyone else who would listen, that women who actually are elderly can't get pregnant. So yeah, maybe some terms need to be updated in some medical books.
With all these little insults being hurled at her daily in one form or another, she's coping by focusing on what glorious and expensive "Push Gift" Kevin will be getting for her. And as a result, this past weekend found us at the David Yurman counter at Nordstroms, and Melinda admiring this ring.
I know, right? Divine. And it looked stunning on her hand.
Her wonderful fiance walked up just then, and I leaned into him and said "Push." just to make sure he got the idea. He muttered some sort of noise indicating wallet pain, to which the sale woman said to him:
"We do have this ring in a smaller setting."
Three things happened then: one, Melinda's head popped up as if this woman just said something about her mama. Two, Kevin chuckled and said "Clearly, you don't know Melinda." Three, I laughed.
Being kicked awake at 4am, not being able to simply quick walk to catch her train to work, overly large boobs, absurdly expensive maternity clothes, and finally, being labeled as an elderly pregnancy pushed Melinda to her limit. Suggesting a smaller diamond ring as her push gift took her over it.
Melinda blurted out at the saleswoman, "Oh no! I am 41 and pregnant! I WILL have my big diamond ring, dammit!!"
Quickly Kevin and I laughed, to ensure that the mood was light. Which made the sales woman laugh. And Melinda laughed too. But then I saw her hand on the sales womans hand, and thought "Hm, maybe Melinda is really laughing... maybe she's contemplating snapping this woman's wrist...."
And off we went.
The David Yurman saleswoman wouldn't get a commission from Kevin today. But I'd bet my shoes Melinda will have that ring.
