“Where you lead, I will follow
Anywhere that you tell me to
If you need, you need me to be with you
I will follow where you lead”
– Carole King –
Gilmore Girls has been a staple in my life; an inspiration, an escape. For those who really know me, they know my favorite show is still Gilmore Girls. Since nothing says fall like Stars Hollow, I felt it only appropriate to soak in the season in true Gilmore Girls style. You know, before the arctic chill comes to town.
For one week, I leaned into all things Lorelai and Rory. How you ask? Let me tell you!
First, you’ll want to start your Gilmore Girls journey with a single question: “How many cups have you had this morning?”
Then, proceed with the following steps:
1. Wear jean jackets like it’s the 90s/early 2000s
Justin Timberlake and Brittney Spears are back together (we wish). Hopefully, the leather jackets aren’t too upset with my resurrection of the Canadian tuxedo, spiced up with a colorful bandana. Lorelai or Rosie the Riveter? Perhaps only the Amazing Kreskin will ever know for sure.
2. Be a regular
Not unlike my usual schedule, I frequented Piecewise Coffee in Cayce. You can call me the unofficial ambassador, the mascot of sorts. I am to Piecewise what Mark Wahlberg is to Calvin Klein. I killed two birds with one stone here because no Gilmore Girls week is complete without “coffee, coffee, coffee.”
3. Celebrate Danish Day
“Okay, this is insane. So you guys had a fight, big deal. You know you’re gonna makeup anyway, and what better day to make up than Danish Day, the happiest of all days. The day when we all say, ‘hey, let’s forgive and forget over a nice Danish and a cup of coffee.”
Some wear pink on Wednesdays, others eat danishes. That’s right. On Wednesday, I snagged a savory danish from smallSUGAR and coffee from, you guessed it, Piecewise Coffee (my personal Luke’s Diner).
4. Embrace local events (outdoor COVID-19 safe ones, of course)
As far as I know, Columbia doesn’t have a Festival of Living Art, Bracebridge Dinner, or Picnic Basket Auction. Any takers to start them? Bueller? Bueller? However, we do have the Bierkeller at the Riverfront and many other events. But, if it’s not local it doesn’t count.
5. Try a Pop-Tarts appetizer
“Let’s go eat, and eat and eat.”
In the world of the Gilmore Girls, burgers and fries make a well-balanced meal. Who am I to argue with that? Before we dug into our own Burger Tavern 77 grub (The Memphis, The Classic 77, and a Build Your Own), we noshed on strawberry Pop-Tarts. Our evening was capped off with a very Gilmore Girls activity…
6. Opt for movie nights and TV marathons
The newest religion: Films and Flicks. It’s all the rage. Watching endless episodes of Gilmore Girls itself is easy now that I have my son hooked on it. Breastfeed. Watch a few minutes of Gilmore Girls. Grab Coffee. Repeat. For this family movie night though, we chose teeny-bopper Halloweentown.
7. Be best friends first and mother and daughter second
Call your mother every day … sometimes multiple times a day. I do. My mom is the Goldie Hawn to my Kate Hudson. As it relates to my kids, I’m the Reese Witherspoon to their Ava Phillippe. More alike than different.
8. Do a bit
Put the pop in pop culture and speak fast for the ultimate Gilmore Girls conversation. Argue about meaningless things, and reference as many celebrities as possible. Thankfully, my family all played their parts, in costume to boot. #Halloween2021
“There she goes
There she goes again
Racing through my brain
And I just can’t contain
This feeling that remains”
– The La’s –
