The Clubhouse
This is my clubhouse. We built it when I was eight. (Read: We handed my dad the appropriate tools, by at least the third try . . . crescent, expansion . . . they all look the same . . . when you . . . don’t give a damn.) I have two sisters. The original hooligan sisters.
This is the only conversation of the construction week that stands out to me.
Dad: I have enough screen for three sides. Which side do you want to be a solid wall?
Me: I wanna be able to see the river, the house and the sunsets. So the east.
Dad: Nope. I’m going with north.
Me: But we HAVE to see the house. What if you’re trying to flag us down?
Dad: Trust me (slight grin), someday you won’t want us to be able to see you—out here.
Me: Why not?
Dad: Trust me.
But here’s the thing, three teenage girls later, we never used it for that. It was about plotting and playing, not nesting and, well, you know what rhymes with ‘playing.’
I still go up there. I snapped that picture four months ago, just before I climbed the ladder. There’s a jar of nail-polish painted stones on a rattan footstool in the southeast corner. I think there’s still a lighter hidden in there, too. Not mine. Cross my heart.
There’s a bookshelf on the solid, north wall. The only thing left on it is a rotted copy of a harlequin novel. In the interest of full disclosure, that might possibly be mine. My sisters visit this site, else I’d lie. There’s a tin box hidden under the built-in bench, also on the north wall, that used to house our weekly club dues, saved for our future zip line to the river. Lisa, the oldest, thought it was for a cordless phone, but Jaime and I knew what it was really for. (Insert secret wink and head nod.)
These days, the Looking Glass girls and I are building a clubhouse. Instead of wrenches and hammers, it’s widgets and plugins. You’re in it now, actually. And people often ask us what it’s for. What its purpose is. Where we want screens and where we want walls. And somedays I feel like I’ve failed because I can’t answer that. I just know, as I knew when I sat on that bench four months ago, it’s good to have one.
Right now, we’re just pretty bowled over by everyone standing with us as we build it.
Love this post Jen! I never had a clubhouse (I was an only child), but I’m so happy to have one now. Now, when I need inspiration, when I dare to dream the impossible, when I need a great laugh or a huge virtual hug. I love having this place and sharing so many things with all of you fellow Looking Glass Laners. I cannot wait to see what unfolds here.
xoxo
Jenn/@jrporter
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Missive Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Jenn-with-two-n’s,
Stick with us, kid, you have a clubhouse now. We’re so GLAD you’re here.
Jen-with-one-n
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Saaaaaaaaweeeet! Ive never had a clubhouse either! (wasnt an only child but my brother was too easy to pick on)
I cant wait to see what unfolds here….
Everytime Im down I come by the clubhouse to have a teacup of champaigne and catch up with my favorite ladies! You have all been such an inspiration and source of empowerment for this foul mouth lil sass-a-frass!
Love you all~
XOXO
[Reply]
Missive Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Christeen!
(Holding out tea cup) More, please!
Jen
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I love your clubhouse! I never had one
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You do not have to explain anything to me! I get it and keep on getting it. so with the dues do the fellas that can only be in the clubhouse during daylight hours pay less or more because we are fellas?
Oh one club rule to add:
1. Fellas are allowed to stay past daylight hours to have s’mores on one scheduled night per month. These activities are pre-planned and must have adult supervision until the graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmellows (plain, strawberry, or cocconut) are gone.
2. Sleepovers can occur as long as again adult supervision is camping out with us. gals in clubhouse, fellas on the ground in tents (in my case my RV parked under the tree) and adult supervisors in tents in between…..
Keep on doin what you gals are doin! Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to get to know all of you!!!!
@keithprivette
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I love my 2 sisters (we are a 3-pack too!)
I just sent my sis a Skype message to join us here on Looking Glass Lane– because we are building a clubhouse for REAL and LONG LOST sisters
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