Mimosas and Men

It was advertised as “Mimosas and Men: Brunch and Real Talk with the Male Think Tank.” When you read that title you have to perform the hand gesture that people use in the movies to signify a dope headline. It sounds alluring, right?

The Twenties Unscripted  Male Think Tank would serve as a panel for the women attendees, answering, truthfully, whatever questions were thrown at them. There would also be brunch. And mimosas.

We were told the questions would be divided into sections: dating, relationships, and sex. Three things about which I know very little. The anxious, and very annoying, voice in my head told me I had no John Brown business being there. But, Tyece and mimosas were both worthy friends of mine who deserved my time and support. Plus, I would be in New York that weekend anyway, so it was sort of a crime not to go.

I couldn’t help but feel like we were gearing up for a crucifixion. Many of the men were late. The women, with their mimosas, were getting saucy and whetting their tongues for their sharp rebuttals. I had the perfect spectator’s seat, smack dab in the middle of the setup. As I recall, I was the only person at the brunch who didn’t say anything at all.

When I got back to Bed-Stuy, my cousin asked the usual questions and we fell into a humdrum conversation which swung like a pendulum, back and forth, between question and answer.

“How was it?-Good.-How was the subway?-Fine.-Any wackos?-One.”

“What did you take from it?” she asked. I paused, knocking the rhythm of our conversation off balance.

“I…Nothing,” I said.

I thought about not writing a recap at that point. As hard as I tried to rack my brain in the moment, I could not, for the life of me, think of a single thing that I took with me from Mimosas and Men (very tempted to mention the gift bags here). My taking “nothing,” however, does not render the event pointless.

The things weren’t mine to take. Although there was some consensus (like how NOBODY had time to date for 7-10 months before officially starting a relationship), every answer belonged to the individuals who gave them. Each answer from individual members of the Male Think Tank was his opinion based on his unique experience and not every answer (or every question, for that matter) applied to me. I would not take what did not belong to me.

Mimosas and men was fun. Hilarious, unabridged, unadulterated, wild fun. And I can’t wait for the possibility of part two. It wasn’t my job to take home an overarching, didactic message. It was my job to support, to laugh, and sometimes scowl, to drink, and to think. It was my job to decide that Tyece would never be a kindergarten teacher (she literally screamed at  to calm the eff down at one point). It was my job to be present. And, I have to say, job well done.

Job well done on supporting, Ro.

Job well sone on surviving, Male Think Tank.

Job well done on the whole dern experience Tyece. 

 

P.S. I hear there might be a part 2! Stay tuned for that and check out Tyece’s favorite moments from the event!