When I was around 11 or 12, there was this television show I loved to watch called Catwalk. It was about this group of teenagers who had formed a band and were trying to get a record deal and make it big.
The thing I loved about this show was how most of the characters had this cool, alternative type of style. Having grown up in a small town where alternative types of people were rare, I was pretty hooked.
One episode stood out to me, where one of the male characters and his girlfriend were at his apartment (which happened to be an old warehouse), sitting on the couch with their leather jackets and cool hair, talking about something important. The thing forever imprinted on my mind was the way they were sitting together.
One of them was sitting up and the other was laying down with their head in the other’s lap, having their hair stroked. I remember wondering when I would ever have a boyfriend who I could do that with, thinking that is what a real couple does and how special I would feel if it ever happened for me. I wanted that moment for myself.
Fast forward some 20 odd years to a couple of months ago. I went on a camping and kayaking adventure with my partner for the weekend. He planned the whole thing and packed everything we needed; he even found this sweet little spot for us to go that was private and away from everything and everyone.
Later in the evening, while we were standing on the edge of this rock, my partners arms around my waist and looking out over the lake, the memory of that Catwalk clip randomly surfaced and I shared it half humorously with my partner, giggling that this very moment was akin to my inner preteen, long sought-after fantasy.
We nearly fell off the rock laughing; my partner dramatically whispering “Catwalk” as he outstretched his arms. It was still special, despite the hysterics, even more so that I was able to recognize that memory and what it meant to fulfill it without being scripted.
A few weeks later, my sweetie and I were sitting in the living room, each of us on a couch. I was quietly studying and he was playing guitar. We were just hanging out together, doing our own things and suddenly I belted out “Catwalk!”
Again, the laughter commenced as my partner clarified what made this a “Catwalk moment,” as they are now affectionately called.
By now, my sweetie has a pretty good idea of what constitutes a “Catwalk moment,” but I didn’t fully realize this until a text conversation where I was asking when he would be home (because I wanted a kiss). His response was to send me a screenshot of the Catwalk television show logo and tell me he has some "Catwalk moments" for me when we get home.
I’m pretty sure I am living the Catwalk dream!
Most of us have these types of fantasies when we are young; the ones we subconsciously look for in our partners and relationships (although the themes will probably vary from person to person).
Do you know what your “Catwalk moment” is?
Niseema Emery is a certified intimacy and relationship coach in Powell River.
