Coming from
a Jewish mother and a Catholic father, it was inevitable. Smack! A double
whammy of guilt from the time I was born. And if you couple that with the fact my
father converted to Judaism when he married my mother, we might need to bring
the tally up to a triple whammy of
guilt.
So is it
any surprise I am wracked with guilt over things I should instead be proudly
embracing? Take, for example, my nudity. I admit it—I walk around in the buff
after showering. What better way to let my body (and my deodorant) dry off
before putting on my clothes? It used to drive my roommate crazy when I lived
in Hell’s Kitchen, as I’d scurry back and forth from the bathroom to my bedroom
to get ready for work. Now that I live alone, I’ve even been known to do the
dishes and make breakfast in my birthday suit. An old boyfriend used to
tease me claiming the neighbors were watching, and I started to wonder. I
thought to myself, “I really should grow up. It’s time to buy a bathrobe.” So I
did—a plush, velvety red one—and it’s stayed on the hook on the back of the
door ever since. I don’t know what made me think wearing a robe would make me
feel “grown up.” Adulthood is all about freedom, and that silly thing just made
me feel constrained.
And here’s another one… cartoons.
And I’m not talking about the cool ones everyone watches on Adult Swim,
although for the record, I love those too. “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” rules. Who
doesn’t love a character named Frylock that’s literally a box of french fries? No,
the cartoons I’m talking about are the good, old fashioned ones from back in
the day. You know, like “Curious George” and “Scooby Doo.” I’m also a fan of
the more modern day cartoons such as “Dinosaur Train.” When I have a bout of
insomnia, nothing calms my nerves more than watching a show with a cute little
monkey or a giggling dog who solves mysteries. People have said my laugh at
times reminds them of Scooby, which I take as a huge compliment, thank you very
much! As for “Dinosaur Train,” I used to love going to the Museum of Natural
History in NYC with my parents and this show just brings out the kid in me—and
it’s educational too! Ever hear of a Corythosaurus? Neither did I, but they apparently
make hooting noises through a crest on the top of their head. Who knew? I sure
didn’t.
And I think it’s time to admit to
my love for Hallmark/Lifetime movies-of-the-week. A typical story will involve
a girl going home for her high school reunion, where she is torn between the
feelings she still has for her old beau and the blossoming love she's discovering for
her best pal (who incidentally is always way hotter and more successful than
the aforementioned beau). Or there’s another scenario where a guy has been
lying to his family about the “great girl” he’s been dating and lo and behold
it’s holiday time and the family wants him to bring this “great girl” home with
him. So the guy has to recruit someone to play his fictitious girlfriend for
the weekend. Have you already figured out that the pretend couple ends up falling
in love? These movies might be the ultimate cheese in terms of writing and
acting, but I don’t care. I love every second of ‘em!
And what about other people’s
guilty pleasures? My friend from college said his was fuzzy navels. What’s not
to like? OJ and peach flavored
alcohol? You can get drunk while getting your daily dose of vitamin C. But
ordering one in a bar? That would be a big no-no according to him. And I happen
to agree. Even as a woman, that drink reeks of teenager-getting-drunk-for-the-first-time-and-puking-later.
There’s no way I would have the nerve
to ask a bartender for that juvenile yet tasty beverage.
One of my favorite gal pals, Marcy, is a MacGyver fanatic. She’s quite frankly the only person I know that owns the
entire box set of the series. When I pointed out her MacGyver mania was a guilty pleasure, she abruptly replied, “But I don't feel guilty!” Check
out her blog entry aptly entitled "The
Tao of MacGyver", where you will learn MacGyver taught Marcy to
unlock the front door of her apartment using only a bobby pin. Impressive... maybe
I should feel guilty for not watching
this show.
Okay
everyone… I am declaring this “Guilty Pleasure Pride Week!” It’s high time we
shouted from the rooftops all our secret loves we’ve been hiding from the rest
of the world. If you like dressing up as a superhero—own it; if you lip synch while
busting a move in your living room to your favorite Back Street Boys video—work
it; if you wake up in the middle of the night to play World of Warcraft—do it! Stand
tall everyone and don’t deny yourself one moment longer.
Come on
folks, spill it. What are your guilty
pleasures? Please comment and let me know!
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