62 days sober. That’s something to celebrate. It’s something to embrace. For Sam, it’s a point that she didn’t really think that she’d get to, but she has gotten there, and she’s fighting to get further.
And this day is going to be a hard one to get through. Why? Because it is St. Patricks Day in Boston. It’s the day that everyone is drinking. It’s the day where alcohol is everywhere.
This may be the biggest challenge she’s faced so far. She calls Olivia, who is going up the cape with her wife. She invites Sam, when she realizes that she is alone. Sam says that she has options, she’ll be okay.
Yet, that tells me that Sam has a lot of growing to do, because she has an issue telling people that she matters, that she needs help. She doesn’t want to be a burden, but that in itself is a burden – a burden for herself to carry and it’s too much.
Sam heads Felicia’s job, where they are way excited to be heading out for the night. Felicia is ready to drink her green beer and have a great time. To her St. Patricks Day is the day of her people – her Super Bowl. Sam gets it.
It’s not a day that Sam should be alone and she knows it. Drinking is a big part of the holiday. But it’s also up to Sam to tell people that she needs them, because lets face it, no one in her life really sees how much she needs them.
Mindy sees that James needs her. James is grocery shopping and Mindy makes small talk. He lets her know that he is waiting for his roommates to answer because he’s locked out. They are at a bar and he doesn’t feel comfortable going. It’s been over a year since he’s been to one.
Sam isn’t going to a bar. She heads home and tries to get her Mom and Bob to spend time with her. It’s surprising to them, but they have plans. Some Irish band concert.
I do believe that Carol deserves a life, but he daughter needs her and she’s doing anything but being there for her. She doesn’t give any positive help. She doesn’t even make sure that on a day where her daughter needs her she puts her first.
Carol and Sam’s relationship is not healthy, but I would love to learn more about it and why they are the way that they are. I know parents and kids don’t always get along, but the thing is – you just want more for Sam. She’s trying and she’s not even getting met half way.
Instead Sam is where she shouldn’t be – alone. She’s trying everything to keep her mind occupied. Cooking, relaxing, even a meditation app. Though I do understand why that doesn’t work and why she gets frustrated and throws her phone. Scottie Pippen talking would not calm me down.
Sam is not chill, but she does what she shouldn’t and check her phone. She sees Felicia out having a good time. She sees Brit trying on wedding dresses.
Sam messages Brit. I think that reaching out to Brit and making that amends is very important to her. Making things right with Brit isn’t going to be easy, but she misses her best friend.
When Brit sees the message she tells Sam that she could use help. Now, jumping to help would not be what I do, but what do I know.
Brit is just as shocked as all of us when Sam shows, up, but she did need her. Doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks – she wants to be there.
It’s Boston though, and everyone wants to get out for St. Patricks Day. But this is a really important day for Brit. It’s the day that she gets to choose her dress and she’s not finding the one. But all of these people are pressuring Brit.
Sam, though, will not have her rushed. The sales lady is trying to pressure, but Sam makes sure to put her in her place and let her know that they are not anywhere near done.
The thing that Brit’s friends should have done in the first place.
Meanwhile, James and Mindy are walking to the bar to find his roommates. She asks if he’s a gamer and even I had to wonder where she was going. But it’s to help him. She talks about how she is and part of the way that she stays sober is that she makes it a game. She sets goals, treats it like it’s a quest and gives herself points.
I love Mindy. She’s got this infectious positivity and this way of doing everything that she can do to get other people through. I admire the way that she’s like we’ve got this and is willing to stick her neck out for others.
When they finally make it to the bar, where James roommates are, they won’t give him the keys without him playing beer pong. He doesn’t want to do it – but Mindy says that it’s okay. They’ve got this.
And they do. They weren’t going to drink, they were going to win. I have to say though James’ friends are shit heads for doing this.
At the bridal salon, they still are there. Brit’s at the point where she’s feeling the pressure and it about to settle. The sales lady is so pushy and so about getting drunk, even I want to slap her. Sam isn’t having her shit, no matter what. Part of me knows it’s because Sam don’t want to be alone, but I also really think that she wants the best for Brit. She’s willing to do whatever it takes for Brit to be happy and have the dress of her dreams.
None of the dresses worked. And hey, that’s life.
When they leave, though, I really do believe that Sam wants nothing more than to be there for Brit. She’s not over everything that happened between the two but wants to be.
She wants that genuine positive friendship back in her life. But just because she does – it doesn’t mean that Brit is ready. And I think that it is a lesson that we all need to learn is that forgiveness is a two way street and we have to allow people to be ready in their own time.
Sams life is changing and so are the lives of people around her. She needs to find pride in herself. And she is realizing that things aren’t that simple.
But she’s also finding that people are proud of her. When Felicia sends her a video telling her that she’s proud of her, when Mindy and James are there for her – all of these things you see a light in Sam.
And one can’t help but hope it keeps growing.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Felicia is the MVP friend
- Bob and Carol talking sex. Well… he’s a sweet guy. Other men should take note. Be willing to remind people that they are worth the wait.
Single Drunk Female airs Thursdays on Freeform.