Hello Single Lady

So, can you tell a difference?

No, I didn't get my hair cut. Wish I would've lost weight, but that bowl of ice cream and hot fudge won't help. And negatory on me wearing a new shirt!

I'm DIVORCED!

Now, I realize people take this differently. Some people are saddened by any thoughts of divorce. Some people actually have a divorce party. Others, like me, it's just another day in the neighborhood.

I have to admit. I'm pretty happy and excited. The world is my oyster. Yes, it always has been, but there's been an Eeyore cloud hanging over me for years. This cord to my ex has now been severed and I can move on. It's been a long 5 yrs. Hopefully people can remember that when I tell them, "Hooray I'm finally divorced."

Most people that I know in the flesh know my story. Of course they wish we could've worked things out. I guess in a perfect world, who wouldn't. Then again, in a perfect world, I never would've had a reason to get divorced.

Court...that was an interesting experience. My ex and I sat together. I knew the judge's assistant. Her daughter was friends with my Smooch in school. We were the 3rd divorce to go and the only one without lawyers. She asked if we wanted to sit together, a question he actually posed to me as we sat down to wait. I was like, "Uh, NO. We're getting divorced. =/

The judge...let's just say, she wasn't what I expected. Don't we all have preconceived notions on how things will probably be? Going to court, probably going to be a somber experience. No one really goes to court for fun and exciting things. Well, not in this court room.

Our judge, she was kind of laid back. Brought in her green reusable coffee travel mug. Used the wrong names a few times and just laughed about it. She started reading through our info, realizing where we got married and asked us if we ever went to this one restaurant. She and my ex exchanged a few thoughts about the restaurant and we kept moving forward.

She asked us all the questions she'd asked of the couples before us. Somehow or another we got back on the topic of the town we got married in and the lake the judge's family lives on. Turns out it's the same one the ex's family has a place on. Then they were talking about the 4th of July parade and the boat parade on the lake.

Oy vey, was that really happening? I made eye contact with my friend and just laughed and plopped my head on the table. Yes, this is my life. This strange conversation should be expected. At least it was light hearted and not some gloomy and depressing situation.

When it was all said and done, we were divorced in about 15 minutes. I know that if the ex ever wins the lottery or comes into a big inheritance I can never ask for it. I laughed. It's never been about money for me, but I know she has to ask. She did the same to the ex.

I still haven't told my boys we're divorced yet. I wanted them to look back over the last couple of weeks and realize that our lives aren't going to change because a judge signed a piece of paper. They KNEW the divorce was coming, I just didn't go on and on about it or tell them the exact day.

Kids worry too much as it is and I didn't want this to be something they carried around with them. I think I'll tell them this weekend. We have Spring Break coming up and it'll give them some down time to digest it all.

Have you been divorced? How did you tell your kids? Was the courtroom a drama fest or was it as simple and "interesting" as mine?