No-Shower Happy Hour

📍 Chapter 12 of Gina's story (Episode 18). New here? Start at Episode 1 → https://daddy-tissues.captivate.fm/episode/im-fcking-doing-this I'm recording this at two o'clock in the afternoon and I have not showered. I'm not sure when the last time was. I did school drop-off like this. I did the UPS return like this. I had a full conversation with another mother in a parking lot like this — and nobody has any idea. Sunglasses are a miracle we get to hide behind. When I was 24 there was a magical place where you showed up like this on purpose. No shower, sweaty, salty, sticky and half naked. Now I'm 40, it's Tuesday, I'm late releasing my podcast for the second week in a row, and I would give anything to be half naked and sticky. This is Chapter 12. First we finish Wildwood — what actually happened after that wave. One night inside Superman's shore house, a plastic bottle of Bankers Club, a jug of Friendly's Creamsicle mix in a blender, and exactly two Polaroids left in my head: a hallway wall, and a bare mattress with gum in my hair. Two witnesses, zero memories. And the part 40-year-old Gina had to stop the tape for — I woke up with no idea what happened, and the feeling I walked home with was thank you. That's where the bar was. On the floor, right next to the mattress. Then back to the balcony and the promise. Never again. The mission to find the man with the W-2. The most reliable man of my entire life, who Dr. Murray and I found on the same night at the Springfield and agreed, like adults, to share — nurse, surgeon, scrubbing in. A blonde, tan schoolteacher with a Jude Law voice who called me Gige, took me to dinner in the city, heard "I have a son," and something behind his face closed. Your gut isn't being dramatic. It's being early. And then the thing this whole episode is sitting on: no-shower happy hour at the OD in Sea Isle. The only happy hour in America where the dress code is don't. Everybody looks like a wet dog, so nobody looks like a wet dog. The one hour where a girl with a checklist, a title to win back, and a man and his lawyer building a version of her out of one true detail got to show up exactly as the day had left her. It was the ocean with a bar in it. Lemonade in hand, sunglasses on, the best kind of day — and I look across the bar. Superman. Grab your daddy tissues. Till next time, my queens. 🖤 ⚠️ Contains strong language and discussion of heavy drinking, a blackout, and dating as a single mom. 📖 Daddy Tissues is a true story told in order. Start at the beginning. Links to episodes👇🏻 New episodes every Monday. Grab your daddy tissues. Till next time, my queens. 🖤 Connect with Daddy Tissues: Follow along for more brutally honest conversations about dating, divorce, motherhood, daddy issues, toxic relationships, healing, self-worth, and all the emotional junk we somehow inherited without asking for it. 🎧 FOLLOW THE SHOW If Daddy Tissues has ever made you laugh, cry, or think holy shit, me too, hit FOLLOW so you don’t miss the next chapter. Everywhere: https://daddy-tissues.captivate.fm/listen Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033ygF97LFxvu3ZpHysLMb Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daddy-tissues/id1896925409 ⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW That helps more than you know. It tells the algorithm that this white trash right here is worth listening to. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daddy-tissues/id1896925409 Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/daddy-tissues-6514529 💸 THE SWEAR JAR Every “fuck” costs me a quarter. Bail me out here: https://daddy-tissues.captivate.fm/support 📱 SOCIALS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daddy.tissues.podcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTSHPhqwR/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@daddy.tissues.podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ECbqyrWpk/ Website: https://daddytissuespodcast.com Music: “Do It Anyway” by Scarlett Solo, used under license. Disclaimer: Daddy Tissues is a personal storytelling podcast for entertainment, reflection, and connection. It is not therapy, legal advice, medical advice, financial advice, or a replacement for professional support. Names and identifying details may be changed or omitted to protect privacy. 📚 THE WHOLE STORY, IN ORDER: every episode, start to finish