Diana : "How are you doing today ? Thank you for coming."
Helena : "No problem. How was your weekend ?"
Diana : "It was like most of the other ones : beach, sun, parties."
Helena : "Yeah, me too. I often take it for granted how blessed we are.
Anything new ?"
Diana : "Not really. You know, I have been bored for quite a long time. This
routine of ours has become too monotonous. Yeah, I know, we have everything a
woman our age would ever want, but I still feel the way I feel."
Helena : "You read my mind ! I have been feeling the exact same way for quite
a while now. Maybe too much of a good thing is a bad thing. I often feel
guilty when I become bored with our lives. Just yesterday I was reading an
article about how we are feeling. It is actually called 'affluenza' !"
Diana : "I know. I have spent a few sessions talking to my psychiatrist about
this topic. I heard him first use that word about six months ago. Actually,
affluenza is quite common in communities like ours'. That is why there are so
many 'wellness centers' in our city. To be honest with you, I find our lives
to be quite dull. I sometimes wish that an event would take place which would
add a challenge or sense of excitement to our otherwise monotonous lives."
Helena: "Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. Why do you think drug use and
alcoholism have such a high incidence here ? All the rehab centers in this
town are a testament to that. So, has ANYTHING different happened in your life
recently ? Anything at all ?"
Diana : "Aside from tearing one of my dresses when bending down last week, and
gaining a few pounds over the past month, nothing has changed."
Helena : "You know, it's funny that you mention that. The exact same thing
happened with my dress last week, and I have also gained a few pounds. Maybe
the man upstairs is starting to feel sorry for us !"
Diana : "Yeah, maybe ! But you know, I am somewhat puzzled by this. I have
always been the same weight since graduating from college, and I can't recall
having changed my diet in any way. Also, the fact that you have experienced
the exact same thing makes it even more puzzling."
Helena : "Oh, come on now, it is just coincidence. Besides, you can't expect
us to stay the same weight forever do you ? Your metabolism slows as you get
older, slowly but surely."
Diana : "I suppose you are right. Ah, the hell with this, let's grab our
surfboards and hit the ocean. What's the point of having beachfront homes if
all we are going to do is to complain about life, rather than enjoy it ?"
Helena : "Fantastic ! Let me just walk down to my place and grab my board. See
you in a few minutes !"
Diana : "I see that you're back. Well, let's hit the waves, after all we have
our own private patch of ocean, and no other surfers to compete with."
Helena : "Yeah, I know. I love your tan ! You are look like a bronzed goddess
that glows in the sun !"
Diana : "You know, I was about to say something similar about you ? You look
as if one of those ancient Greek statues came to life, and got the perfect tan
!"
Helena : "I wonder what our boyfriends think ? How do you think they would
describe our bodies ?"
Diana : "I've never given it much thought. But luckily for us, they are a
mixture of Hercules and Adonis !"
Helena: "I know, those bastards ! In the back of my mind, I always wonder if
they are cheating on us, or if they would be tempted to leave us for someone
else ?"
Diana : "Only if they had a death wish ! Besides, they know all too well they
are not going to find two gals like us anytime soon ! I know that sounds
arrogant, but reality is reality."
Helena : "I guess you're right. Oh, I worry too much sometimes. Well, let's
hit the waves ! Same routine as always ?"
Diana : "Absolutely ! Surf for an hour, and then have our dinner delivered
from one of those exotic restaurants. What do you want to have tonight ?"
Helena : "Tonight I feel like having Sushi. It is healthy, fresh, delicious,
and a work of art all at the same time."
Diana : "Wow, what an evening. I can't remember the last time I felt this
great. What a surfing experience ! I felt more confident today than ever
before. It was almost as if my body had somehow become stronger. And dinner
really hit the spot. I am however still hungry. How about you ?"
Helena : "I feel exactly the same as you do, with regards to surfing and the
sushi. I have a craving for a thick juicy steak, how about you
Diana: "That's sounds wonderful ! And, while we wait for it, you can tell me
about your upcoming trip."
Helena : "Ok, let me place the order."
Diana : "Thank you for placing the order and paying for everything tonight.
You are such a gracious friend."
Helena : "No problem, it's my pleasure. Anyways, with regards to my upcoming
trip, my boyfriend and I have been looking forward to this for such a long
time, and we are planning on having the time of our lives during the next 30
days."
Diana : "Yeah, I'm sure. I mean, not only will you have a chance to spend a
lot of time together, it will also provide you with the change you have been
looking for. Make sure you fill me in on the details when you get back next
month."
Helena : "Absolutely ! Ah, there's the doorbell. Let me get that."
Diana : "My goodness, I can't remember the last time I had a steak that tasted
so good, even though we have both ordered the exact same thing before."
Helena : "I know. Well it's probably because we worked up such an appetite
from surfing so vigorously today. Besides, that salty ocean air always stirs
up one's appetite too."
Diana : "Yeah, I guess you're right."
Helena : "Well, will you look at the time ! I better get going. I still have
to pack, and I also need to call my boyfriend and coordinate a few things.
I'll call you as soon as I am back."
Diana : "It's so good to see you after 30 days. I can't wait to hear about
your trip, and don't leave out any of the juicy details."
Helena : "Well, let me just say that to date, it has been the best experience
of my life. The food, the weather, my intimate moments with him, everything
was just right."
Diana : "That's great. I am so happy for you. While you were gone, I got to
spent more time with my boyfriend as well, and oddly enough, I felt so much
more intimacy during the past month than ever before."
Helena : "Well, it should be that way because we are in the prime of our
lives."
Diana : "I know that, but there is still something that I can't quite explain.
I was in the prime of my life last month as well. The magnitude of change
can't be explained by this 30 day difference."
Helena : "I guess you do have a point, but why analyze things so much ? Just
enjoy your life as much as you can."
Diana : "I suppose you're right. After all, everything does happen for a
reason. So anything else happen on your trip ?"
Helena : "You know, something did, 'potentially' !"
Diana : "What do you mean 'potentially' ?"
Helena : "Well, I am sure this is nothing important, but my boyfriend thought
that I had grown taller !"
Diana : "What ?! At our age ? That's ridiculous ! I mean, I know that we are
in our twenties, but I can't think of anyone who has grown an inch past 23."
Helena : "That's what I told him, but he was almost certain that I had grown
taller. He also mentioned that he felt that I had grown stronger
Diana : "What did he base his second observation on ?"
Helena : "He based it on our intimate moments during the trip. He said he had
definitely felt a change in me during that time."
Diana : "I think both can be explained rationally. Your height might have
changed a little because of your change of location and climate. And his
second observation was probably caused by the excitement you felt on your
trip."
Helena : "I guess those are both very good explanations. You're probably
right. Ah heck, let's walk by the water, and I'll fill you in on the details
of our trip."
Diana : "Fantastic ! But before we go, let me add two more things, just to put
your mind completely at ease. You don't seem any taller to me at all, not by a
millimeter or an inch. Also, come stand by this wall and I will mark your
height. We will check it again next month, and when you see that your height
hasn't changed a bit, you can stop worrying !"
Helena : "You're such a fantastic friend ! What would I do without you ? By
the way, you don't have a tape measure, do you ?"
Diana : "No I don't. Stop worrying for God's sake ! Grab your bikini, and
let's hit the water. "
Helena : "Oh, alright ! See in you in ten minutes."