Time. It’s this crazy thing that we can’t escape, that changes everything, but it’s something that we don’t forget. Time has a way of making everything worse or better, but sometimes what it does is make us realize is that time shapes us.
The 80’s were quite sometime ago, but for Punky it feels like yesterday. So she’s excited – so excited that she’s singing over cooking eggs. And though I love a good egg, I am not about to be crying over it – so yes, this is something that I don’t get.
She informs the kids that she’s excited because it is time for the annual block party and she’s in charge. Hannah is going on about how the themes are stupid each year, but Punky thinks that she’s got the perfect theme.
The 80’s.
The kids aren’t so excited for the 80’s – which I get because to them that’s old people stuff. But the thing is – the past is always something we can learn from. It’s exciting to show people the past sometimes, and for Punky and Travis this is going to be a good thing. Because they can show their kids the time of their lives that shaped them.
They can teach them all about the 80’s.
Punky and Travis have a conversation about the kiss that they shared. Punky says that it was a mistake, and travis is like I knew I should have gone with mistake. But neither of them are really being honest with each other and we see that written all over their faces.
Travis doesn’t want things to be awkward with Punky. I think that his relationship with Punky means so much to him and he wants to protect that.
Hannah’s relationship is all sorts of issues too. But then again, when aren’t first relationships filled with all sorts of craziness and mixed feelings. When we’re learning how to navigate relationships, time makes everything dramatic.
She’s brought Sean in to learn about the 80’s and she remarks that they need a theme song. But he tells her that they have one. It’s the Law & Order theme song. Ummm… as a female who is like way too romantic, hell no to that song. He tells her that it was playing when they first kissed, and now every time his parents watch the reruns he thinks of her.
Lord, I don’t want to be associated with thinking of a first kiss when my parents watch something. Sean needs to backstep.
Punky is so excited for the block party, that she’s dug out 80’s costumes and all I can think is where does she store all of this stuff in her small apartment. She’s got a lot of tutus. But hey, they do co-inside with a lot of Madonna’s changes. And I respect that. It also opens a moment for Hannah and Punky to talk.
Hannah asks if Punky if she had a song with Travis. And Punky revisits the moment of their first song. You can see on her face that she’s reminiscing and her feelings for Travis are strong. But how do you revisit something that you gave up on?
I love the moments where Hannah and Punky have conversations that are honest, because they need them. They have a unique relationship, where they are supporting each other and growing with each other, but they also have a best friendship that is admirable.
But hey, we also learn quickly that parents can give bad advice. Punky tells her to upgrade the song, but what is bad about that? Well, a song has two people.
Izzy asks Punky if she can bring Brandon sto the block party. I love that Izzy has made best friends with the dog, but I agree with Punky that the dog may get lost. She tells Izzy that she’ll think about it, which is normally parental code for no.
Every year, the block party has a raffle and Punky has put Daniel and Diego in charge of selling tickets. Apparently it’s something amazing every year, because these two come up with an idea to stack the raffle for themselves.
Hannah has taken what Punky said to heart about upgrading the song, and heads to meet Sean. Only when she stages the moment, she doesn’t know that he’s just buried his hamster. I feel for Hannah, because like I want her to realize that you can’t force a moment. A moment is supposed to be natural. A moment is supposed to happen. Eventually, her way of pushing the moments makes Sean mad, because he doesn’t like that she’s trying to manipulate him.
Travis is helping Punky with the block party and shows up at her apartment. Cherie and her are dancing and having a great time, but Travis starts showing all signs of awkward. And it sends of flashing lights to Cherie, and as a best friend she’s able to call out Punky and tell her that she sees that something is going on with the two of them. Punky is feeling all sorts of ways about Travis, but doesn’t want to talk about it while Travis is there.
Punky has decided to hire and 80’s cover band for the block party and when she calls the number, it’s Travis. She finds out that Travis passed on going on tour in order to be a more present Dad. And LORD – that tells us a lot about the man he’s become.
Punky’s feelings are waffling and that’s a hard thing. She doesn’t know if she’s given up to early, but that’s a hard road to go down. At the block party, she tells Cherie that she’s going to talk to Travis after he performs. Maybe she closed the door too early?
I mean, I don’t want to out myself as an idiot but I stood up and cheered! I love, love these two.
Izzy is having an amazing time at the block party – but what 7 year old wouldn’t with all of the snow cones you can eat? I would be excited. But her focus on eating snow cones makes her loose Brandon and she freaks out. That’s her best friend. She runs off to find him and the woman who has him is in a state of shock. Izzy looks exactly like Punky did.
And you know, just by the look on her face that this woman is Punky’s Mom.
Travis and his group are performing and the first song they sing, he dedicates to Punky. He tells the crowd that she used to be his best girl, but now she’s his best friend. And Punky has been friend zoned when that’s the last zone she wanted to be in.
Everyone sees how it’s hurting and bothering her. Everyone but Travis. He thinks he’s doing the right thing, but I think he thinks he’s doing the right thing based off the things that Punky has said before.
He is protecting his own heart, because she has the power to hurt him and he loves her.
This family isn’t conventional, but they are a family on their own terms. And that’s a beautiful thing. It’s a beautiful thing that Punky and Travis have the coparenting thing down but also that the stability of their children is what matters the most.
At the raffle, Susan B wins. Only she doesn’t claim the prize. Daniel and Diego were the next ticket, so they end up winning. Izzy tells Punky that she met Susan and Punky realizes by Izzy telling her what the lady said, that Susan is actually her Mom.
