--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was stunned. I pulled the phone away…" description: "\"“I was stunned. I pulled the phone away and looked quizzically at the hole-punched speaker. Aside from the blood obligation to be my sister's maid of h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/sloane-crosley-1764_female-friendship_i-was-stunned-i-pulled-the-phone-away-an_1297947.jpg" --- # I was stunned. I pulled the phone away and looked… ![“I was stunned. I pulled the phone away and looked quizzically at the hole-punched speaker. Aside from the blood obligation to be my sister's maid of honor, it had never occured to me that I would get asked to be in anyone's wedding. I thought we had reached an understanding, the institution of…” quote by Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/sloane-crosley-1764_female-friendship_i-was-stunned-i-pulled-the-phone-away-an_1297947.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/sloane-crosley-1764_female-friendship_i-was-stunned-i-pulled-the-phone-away-an_1297947.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/sloane-crosley-1764_female-friendship_i-was-stunned-i-pulled-the-phone-away-an_1297947.jpg) > ““I was stunned. I pulled the phone away and looked quizzically at the hole-punched speaker. Aside from the blood obligation to be my sister's maid of honor, it had never occured to me that I would get asked to be in anyone's wedding. I thought we had reached an understanding, the institution of marriage and I. Weddings are the like the triathlon of female friendship: the Shower, the Bachelorette Party, and the Main Event. It's the Iron Woman and most people never make it through. They fall off their bikes or choke on ocean water. I figured if I valued my life, I'd stay away from weddings and they'd stay away from me.”” [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Weddings are portrayed as a demanding rite of passage for women, likened to a triathlon where many falter. **In simple terms:** Weddings feel like a tough test for female friends. Key Takeaway Consider the pressure of social expectations. Themes friendship social pressure rituals Mood wry humorous Type reflective social commentary When to use this quote - wedding planning - friendship dynamics - personal boundaries Key Concepts gender roles ritual analysis Questions to Reflect On - Do you view weddings as a burden or celebration? - How can friendships survive such pressures? A Different Perspective It humorously exaggerates the difficulty, possibly minimizing positive aspects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bachelorette Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bachelorette-party/) [Female friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-friendship/) [Maid of honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maid-of-honor/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Ocean water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean-water/) [Triathlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/triathlon/) [Wedding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wedding/) [Weddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weddings/) ## Related quotes > [I thought we had reached an understanding, the institution of marriage and I. Weddings are like the triathalon of female friendship: the Shower, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-thought-we-had-reached-an-understanding-the-institution-of-marriage/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [A big part of being in a wedding is the financial obligation, and that's something that people don't really talk about, but if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-wiig/a-big-part-of-being-in-a-wedding-is-the-financial-obligation-and-that/) [Kristen Wiig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-wiig/) > [To me, there was an interesting movie to be made about two people who had been on that whirlwind romance and what happens after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/to-me-there-was-an-interesting-movie-to-be-made-about-two-people-who/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) > [Marriage and weddings are two different things. A marriage can exist between two people without a wedding. I don't understand why the law needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/marriage-and-weddings-are-two-different-things-a-marriage-can-exist/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [I feel as though my career really hit its high point when I was cast as a supporting actress in 'American Wedding'. I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/january-jones/i-feel-as-though-my-career-really-hit-its-high-point-when-i-was-cast/) [January Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/january-jones/) > [May your bachelorette party be so fun that you don't notice how annoyed the rest of the bar is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-your-bachelorette-party-be-so-fun-that-you-don-t-notice-how/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Vanished like inhibitions at a bachelorette party.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-vickers/vanished-like-inhibitions-at-a-bachelorette-party/) [Dennis Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-vickers/) > [What you see at a bachelor or bachelorette party is what happens on a recruiting visit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-rose/what-you-see-at-a-bachelor-or-bachelorette-party-is-what-happens-on-a/) [Jalen Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-rose/) > [I never really had the time for a proper bachelorette party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-keech/i-never-really-had-the-time-for-a-proper-bachelorette-party/) [Hazel Keech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-keech/) > [“Piano Man put up a fight but his resistance was futile. Hell hath no fury like a drunken girl at her bachelorette party in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-lesage/piano-man-put-up-a-fight-but-his-resistance-was-futile-hell-hath-no/) [Vicki Lesage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-lesage/) > [“What about after? Getting back through the lobby, I mean. Assuming you’ll need to leave at some point. For the bachelorette party, if nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-kauffman/what-about-after-getting-back-through-the-lobby-i-mean-assuming-you/) [Donna Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-kauffman/) > [“There was a bachelorette party in the middle, dancing in a circle. It was terrible music to dance to; all you could really do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/there-was-a-bachelorette-party-in-the-middle-dancing-in-a-circle-it/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [I can tell you my dream bachelorette party, but I cannot tell you my dream wedding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lindsay/i-can-tell-you-my-dream-bachelorette-party-but-i-cannot-tell-you-my/) [Rachel Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lindsay/) > [“People, heed my warning: That stuff is Specials Olympics in a pint glass. You think they are harmless and not very strong, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/people-heed-my-warning-that-stuff-is-specials-olympics-in-a-pint/) [Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/) > [I'm going to do everything in my power to make your bachelorette party all about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-going-to-do-everything-in-my-power-to-make-your-bachelorette/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Sloane Crosley > [“Names I am most commonly called by telemarketers: Simone, Slain, Siobhan, Flo, Stacey, Susan, Slater, Leanne, and Slow (Yes, my parents named me "Slow".…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/names-i-am-most-commonly-called-by-telemarketers-simone-slain-siobhan/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [“I’m not sure how the ponies happened, though I have an inkling: “Can I get you anything?” I’ll say, getting up from a dinner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-m-not-sure-how-the-ponies-happened-though-i-have-an-inkling-can-i/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [As most New Yorkers have done, I have given serious and generous thought to the state of my apartment should I get killed during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/as-most-new-yorkers-have-done-i-have-given-serious-and-generous/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [“If I could just get my partner to see me how she used to - to fall in love with me all over again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/if-i-could-just-get-my-partner-to-see-me-how-she-used-to-to-fall-in/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [I don't really think of my essays as being about myself. I know it sounds insane, but I just don't think of them as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-don-t-really-think-of-my-essays-as-being-about-myself-i-know-it/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [It takes a level of creative depression to hear 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' and weep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/it-takes-a-level-of-creative-depression-to-hear-girls-just-wanna-have/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [Book tours are such a little tapas meal of where I could live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/book-tours-are-such-a-little-tapas-meal-of-where-i-could-live/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [I wouldn't want to live in Berlin. It's bombed out and there's a lot of techno.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-wouldn-t-want-to-live-in-berlin-it-s-bombed-out-and-there-s-a-lot/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [The reason that war is such a fascinating subject for writers is because it's a revealer. Put a bunch of people in an adrenaline-fuelled,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/the-reason-that-war-is-such-a-fascinating-subject-for-writers-is/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [“Shortly after this exchange my roommate suggested we start throwing water balloons at the construction workers. Not really at them because, I know, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/shortly-after-this-exchange-my-roommate-suggested-we-start-throwing/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [When it seems impossible that a deep connection with another person could just go away instead of changing form. It seems impossible that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/when-it-seems-impossible-that-a-deep-connection-with-another-person/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [Because I am a horrible flincher, contact lenses are not an option. I'm always envious of contact-wearers. There are endless reasons to take off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/because-i-am-a-horrible-flincher-contact-lenses-are-not-an-option-i-m/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [“How can we not still be rooting for the younger versions of ourselves as if they actually exist, playing catch-up in time? Who wouldn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/how-can-we-not-still-be-rooting-for-the-younger-versions-of-ourselves/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [There is no such thing as a crazy dog person in New York. Are there people who are completely insane about their dogs? Hordes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-crazy-dog-person-in-new-york-are-there/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [As most doctors will tell you, cleansing is ridiculous. You know what's been around longer than that state-of-the-art juicer? Your kidneys. And your liver.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/as-most-doctors-will-tell-you-cleansing-is-ridiculous-you-know-what-s/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) [Explore all 210 Sloane Crosley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) ## More Female friendship quotes > [It's been my experience that people who make proclamations about themselves are usually the opposite of what they claim to be. If someone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/it-s-been-my-experience-that-people-who-make-proclamations-about/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [“So what she's a (this or that)…If you don't plan to help better other women in this world then keep moving, honey!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-edwards/so-what-she-s-a-this-or-that-if-you-don-t-plan-to-help-better-other/) [Helen Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-edwards/) > [In the forming of female friendships beauty seldom recommends one woman to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/in-the-forming-of-female-friendships-beauty-seldom-recommends-one/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [“She seemed to feed on their laughter, and they on her humor, like the lily of the pond—sustained by the very water it purified.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-collier/she-seemed-to-feed-on-their-laughter-and-they-on-her-humor-like-the/) [Molly Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-collier/) > [I wanted to write a book about female friendship, because it's a constant that goes right through to the end of our days. Over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-jones/i-wanted-to-write-a-book-about-female-friendship-because-it-s-a/) [Ruth Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-jones/) > [I feel there's so much pressure, especially for women, to declare what their life's going to be and what their career is, and are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-wiig/i-feel-there-s-so-much-pressure-especially-for-women-to-declare-what/) [Kristen Wiig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-wiig/) > [We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/we-should-all-be-thankful-for-those-people-who-rekindle-the-inner/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“I have no hesitation in saying that Serena was my life's most present person. Even more so than my own wife, God rest her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-thorin/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-serena-was-my-life-s-most-present/) C.J. Thorin > [I'm really excited that 'The Other Woman' did so well at the box office, and I hope that will keep encouraging people to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/i-m-really-excited-that-the-other-woman-did-so-well-at-the-box-office/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [I thought we had reached an understanding, the institution of marriage and I. Weddings are like the triathalon of female friendship: the Shower, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-thought-we-had-reached-an-understanding-the-institution-of-marriage/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [“I consider telling my brother, asking him for help. But tell him what exactly? I have no black eyes, no bloody noses to report:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-consider-telling-my-brother-asking-him-for-help-but-tell-him-what/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [He who has one enemy shall meet him everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/he-who-has-one-enemy-shall-meet-him-everywhere/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [I love my husband, but it is nothing like a conversation with a woman that understands you. I grow so much from those conversations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-love-my-husband-but-it-is-nothing-like-a-conversation-with-a-woman/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [I knew I wanted to write about female friendship. I've got a few friends I've known since we were teenagers, who have spanned the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-jones/i-knew-i-wanted-to-write-about-female-friendship-i-ve-got-a-few/) [Ruth Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-jones/) > [Something snapped inside her. “Of course I’m afraid! Relationships do bad things to me.” He started to respond, but the pain had gone on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/something-snapped-inside-her-of-course-i-m-afraid-relationships-do/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) [Browse all 55 Female friendship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-friendship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I was stunned. I pulled the phone away and looked quizzically at the hole-punched speaker. Aside from the blood obligation to be my sister's maid of honor, it had never occured to me that I would get asked to be in anyone's wedding. I thought we had reached an understanding, the institution of marriage and I. Weddings are the like the triathlon of female friendship: the Shower, the Bachelorette Party, and the Main Event. It's the Iron Woman and most people never make it through. They fall off their bikes or choke on ocean water. I figured if I valued my life, I'd stay away from weddings and they'd stay away from me.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sloane Crosley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-was-stunned-i-pulled-the-phone-away-and-looked-quizzically-at-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Female friendship" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-was-stunned-i-pulled-the-phone-away-and-looked-quizzically-at-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/sloane-crosley-1764_female-friendship_i-was-stunned-i-pulled-the-phone-away-an_1297947.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/sloane-crosley-1764_female-friendship_i-was-stunned-i-pulled-the-phone-away-an_1297947.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/sloane-crosley-1764_female-friendship_i-was-stunned-i-pulled-the-phone-away-an_1297947.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was stunned. I pulled the phone away and looked quizzically at the hole-punched speaker. Aside from the…” — Sloane Crosley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sloane Crosley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I was stunned. I pulled the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-was-stunned-i-pulled-the-phone-away-and-looked-quizzically-at-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-was-stunned-i-pulled-the-phone-away-and-looked-quizzically-at-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```