Wives

Tonight while taking the dog for a walk around the block with the kids we met Kerry Wood. He lives around the corner and was coming out of his house with his kids right when we walked by...and his son asked me if he could pet my dog. I of course said yes and this cutie pie (the kid, not Kerry) starting talking my ear off about dogs and bikes and telling me how old he was...so cute. My boys came riding up and the little boys went into "kid speak". Soon their whole family was out on sidewalk and I was introducing myself...I didn't realize this was Kerry Wood until he said his name...he just said his first name but pitchers have a certain look about them so I knew right away. His wife is very pretty and nice and we share a first name...making the joke "oh we won't forget each others name" ha. ha. ha. Anyway...they were headed out for ice cream and we were walking same way and the little boys were already running ahead comparing bikes and scooters so we chatted as we walked...well, I should say Kerry chatted with me. His wife was pushing stroller and walking a bit faster...sadly my bursitis is back so I was taking it easy. One of their mothers was there too and she was walking next to me...but again, wife not so much. She seemed to have no interest in making a new neighbor friend...I mean she didn't pull out her cell phone and make a phony call, but she for sure gave me the not interested vibe. Now trust me, I can talk to anyone...and I do admit I know more neighbors than our friends three doors down who have lived on the block for 10 years...I'm friendly and I'm nosey...but man, aren't you happy when you've gone on vacation and I'm cleaning up your stoop and shoveling your walk!? Anyway, it didn't strike me as either rude or bitchy...I was really out to get my 9 year old properly introduced so he could say he's met Kerry Wood...mission accomplished and he was really excited...of course I waited to tell him until after we'd parted ways...not wanting to "gush" or scare them! My other neighbors are a little afraid of me 'cause I look in their windows...not in a scary way, just in a "hey, watcha doing?" way. Whatever. I think they like it.
Anyway, it didn't hit me until much later that this poor woman was probably thinking "get the hell away from my husband, bitch"...much like I do when little "chef groupies" (a phrase I would like to coin) talk to my husband. As soon as I realized this I wanted to (and still do) run back, peek in their windows to explain that indeed I am not crazy or a baseball groupie or am I in anyway dangerous! I simply wanted my son to meet his neighbor the baseball player. But you see now I'm in...I'm all in. I will be this woman's new BFF...even if I have to "accidentally" fall and break a limb in front of their house. What a cute story that will make while we vacation together!!
In all seriousness, I've been struggling with the "chef's wife" bullshit lately...I lean on my fellow chef's wives quite a bit and we band together during late lonely nights while we eat cereal for dinner...but I feel like this woman, my new BFF, could really give me some new perspective...on motherhood, on having a husband in the spotlight, and beating off these little bitches who think it's fun to flirt with married men. We could have coffee and take walks and play with kids while we swap stories of single-motherhood and slutty groupies. I'm certain I can make this work. The key is stalking and being in the right place at the right time...but having it seem natural. Yeah, I've got this.