- Where the Day Takes You
I don't think it's been happening more lately, I've just been noticing it more. I'll be in the elevator at work or waiting in my shrink's office or at the checkout at the grocery store and someone will say, "I like your hat!" or "Wow, look at all your pins!" At practices, people notice my socks. At bouts, they notice my tutu.
Occasionally, people ask about them. Not so much my funny animal hats (unless "What IS that?" about the squirrel one) or my tutus. Occasionally, people ask if there's a reason I paired the two mismatched socks I'm wearing. More often, people ask about the pins on my winter coat. Lately, I've had people asking about the tattoos on my wrists.
I often say I'm an open book. And, there is precious little I hold back, especially if I'm asked a direct question. But I've been finding it hard to answer some of these inquiries lately. (I still answer, but I hesitate and I avoid the important details when I can.)
The thing is: I didn't get the tattoos on my wrists as a statement to the world. I got them for me. To remind me of precious, important things. I don't wear the pins on my winter coat to make a fashion statement -- I wear them, because nearly all of them were gifts from people I love and I like them and they mean something to me and if I didn't put them on my coat, I would forget to wear them. I wear the hats because they make me smile and they keep me warm and each of them was a gift from someone I care about. I wear the tutus because they are fun and they make people smile. I am usually not making a statement with my socks; there is some method to the madness when I mismatch them...usually. But sometimes, a pair of socks is just a pair of socks.
It's not that I don't appreciate people taking an interest. Sometimes, it's nice to be noticed (if somebody really gets it -- like the derby girl who pointed out that I often pair the alien sock with the space sock to go for a theme I didn't think anyone but me would notice).
But make no mistake: This is not for you.
If it pleases you or connects us, then that's an added bonus.
Is this what it's like to grow up and be your own girl?
