Oui, Oui Mon Ami!

Andrea: So we saw Breathless last week at the Coolidge Corner Theater. How excited were you to see it? Do you think you were more excited than me?

Zara: I was marginally excited. You and my husband are the French New Wave fans. I think you were more excited about seeing it on the big screen. HOWEVER, when the film began and I realized that the only other time I had seen “Breathless” was sans subtitles so I was VERY excited to understand the dialogue. It was funny that French people were saying the French equivalent of “puke.”

Andrea: I bought us tickets a week in advance because I imagined the tickets (for a Thursday night) would sell out. I was surprised they didn't sell out but can only imagine it's because every other Bostonian saw the film over the course of the previous week. I was surprised we had our choice of all the best seats in the house. In high school my friend Caron and I got up early to buy tickets to see the Black Crowes right when they went on sale. We imagined there would be a line out the grocery store (you bought your concert tickets at Dillon's in Wichita). Needless to say, we were roaming the frozen food aisles by ourselves until the tickets actually went on sale and we were there to purchase them first.

Zara: I was surprised as well. Not as surprised as I am to read about you seeing the Black Crowes? And you make fun of me for liking Steely Dan??? Hey, did you know that Eddie Money gave a free concert at the Hatch Shell on Saturday? Nobody would go with me.

Andrea: Hey! I grew up in Wichita. I'm a country mouse. Also it was 1995. Also we never ended up seeing them because there was the Oklahoma City bombing and they canceled our show in favor of a benefit.

Andrea: What do you think the chances are of you getting a pixie cut like Jean Seberg?

Zara: Let me tell you something. I have been telling myself for years that if lost 20 pounds I would cut my hair short and get my belly button pierced. How many years? Well, I don’t think belly button piercing is still considered sexy and the short haircut I wanted was based on a style that I saw an actress wear on the TV show, “Chicago Hope.” “Chicago Hope???” It was a medical drama that came on the air the same year as ER and lost out to the Clooney juggernaut. That is how many years! To answer your question, not likely…..

Andrea: We had dinner at Bottega Fiorentina ahead of the movie, as we usually do. I'll let you explain what happened with the parmesan cheese.

Zara: I have many enemies. The largest enemy I have is the teenage population. When I was a child they would tease me. For example: I would try to play with the older kids on the block and once I fell on the ground and a female teenager said “Swift move measles face!” (I had a chronic staph infection on my face from 4-10 years old.) When I was a teenager they were mean to me. For example: “You walk funny!” and “Hey you, pimple face, you must be a virgin!” (I had severe acne from 12-22 years old.) And now, as an adult, teenagers give me scary looks and make no room for me on sidewalks so that I am forced to walk in traffic if I want to get anywhere. Last Thursday, some crafty and surly teenagers played a joke on me when I was trying to enjoy dinner. Knowing that I like to sit at the window seat they snuck into the restaurant earlier in the day and loosened the lid on the parmesan shaker so that when I used it at dinner all of the grated parmesan and the lid fell atop my dinner. Brats!

Andrea [choking on a handful of crab chips]: Do you think we should break into Brookline High and shove some kids into lockers?

Andrea: Because I am have a taste for the rich life, I rented a car and drove to Brookline to meet you. I also bought us souvenirs. Have you worn your t shirt yet?

Zara: Thank you for the t-shirt; I love it!!! No, I have not worn it yet as I need to wash it before wearing. You might remember that during our evening out I mentioned that I broke my rule about always washing clothes before wearing them with the jeans I wore out that night. You also might remember if you have not repressed the memory, my describing to you in great detail how the combination of my sweat and the blue dye from jeans resulted in me leaving a wet, blue stain on the toilet seat at work.

Andrea: I know a certain Evil Twin who found pieces of crab shell in her underwear after a feeding frenzy in Annapolis. Nothing fazes me.

Andrea: If you could see any movie on the big screen, what would it be? I think I would like to see The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Catherine Deneuve is so foxy.

Zara: I would like to see the video we made of our re-enactment of Grey Gardens. You were an exquisite Little Edie!

Andrea: OMG! You are right-- that would be the best movie to see on the big screen.