Dear Maggie —

I swear – between all of the end-of-the-school-year things and all of the beginning-of-Summer things colliding at the same time, I can hardly plan ahead beyond the day in front of me.  I know I’m not alone in this.  Every time I bring it up with my friends, they keep saying that it’s all part of preparing for “Maycember”.  I’d never heard of this – but then again, I’m missing a lot of things these days.  It sounds like one of those romances between a lonely older gentleman and a spry young woman in my Danielle Steele books – but I doubt that’s what they’re alluding to.  I have FOMO that I’m not in the loop.  And being a single mom of two, in case that is what it is – I don’t want to miss out if love is around the corner!  So my question to you… is Maycember a real thing… and should I prep for my meet-cute (not sure where I’m going to find the time to do that though!) – or is this just another thing to add to my to-do list?

— Looking-For-Love Lilly

Dear Looking-For-Love —

Boy-howdy, I do know what you mean.  As I was sitting around with my besties, Terry and Bernie, at a watch party for the papal announcement today, we were commiserating about how crazy things feel these days.  Let me start out by saying… Woohoo Pope Leo XIV!  How exciting!!  You could have heard a harp string drop at that party as everyone waited for the word – there were a lot of heavenly heavy-hitters in attendance, and everyone was abuzz about the new Holy Father.  Love the name too – almost sounds like a rock star.  Like Charlie XCX – only much holier! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Anyway – you’re not exactly wrong.  And Maycember is a REAL thing – but maybe not exactly what you’re thinking.  You might have been reading a few too many romance novels in your spare time – because you’re confusing it with May-December… And not there there’s anything wrong with affaires de cœur that involve a serious age gap (I mean, maybe not Anna Nicole Smith May-December necessarily!), but a little healthy opposite-in-the-generations-department can work well.  Malcolm and I were 15 some-odd years apart (which was much more significant when the average lifespan was 45), and despite the fact that I turned down his proposals A LOT at first, it wasn’t an age-thing, and we had a very happy and prosperous marriage.  What can I say… I was wooed. 👏 So, if you’re in the market for a match, more power to you – but your friends are not talking about looking for your next silver-haired paramour.

Maycember means that in May you have all of the December busy-ness of the season (as opposed to the business of the season 😀) without all of the holiday fun.  It’s just plain old busy, with maybe a few things to celebrate, but all crammed into one month without all of the celebratory decorations, music, and falderal.

And that is what feels like it’s hitting hard right now!  Have you looked at the SMOS calendar lately?? Confirmation, First Communion, concerts, Dancing Classrooms, Teachers Appreciation Week, Highlander, don’t forget Mother’s Day, Field Day, half-days, days off, Day of Service, picnics, parties, baseball, softball, track meets, 8th grade retreat-mystery day-portfolio breakfast-graduation Mass, last day of school, bubble bus, Memorial weekend, and the start of Summer camps!  Yowza – my head is just spinning writing all of that out.  And not one single decoration to purchase, tree to put up, wreath on the door, or cookie to bake in honor of all of that busy-ness.

But here’s where this weekend may be a saving grace.  The Highlander is a party after all, will likely involve booze and dancing, and let’s face it – with all that red and green plaid, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  So, all is not lost – get yourself gussied up, purchase a gift for yourself someone you care about, and pretend to revel in the season that isn’t.  You might just fool yourself into thinking you’ve been transported six months into the future.

And who knows, maybe you’ll be swept off the dance floor by a special someone.  They keep saying you could meet your best friend there, so why not a nest friend instead.  Being a hopeless romantic, I’ll always hold onto the possibility that love can bloom anywhere.  Even in Maycember!  And with all of that rain we’ve had lately, if that doesn’t help things bloom, I’m not sure what will!  So continue looking… and add that to your list.

— Maggie