The One Good Thing

about, uh, let's just say "maturing" is finally getting comfortable in your own skin.  This takes a while because you have to go through periods of competing with other teenagers, other young mothers, other co-workers -- you get my drift.  You have to be what the world wants you to be which might be a far cry from what you really are.

There comes a time when you don't have to do that anymore.  I have reached that point.

I have been reading blogs about what a "60 something" should look like.  Hmm...well, I guess leggings with gladiator heels

 just aren't "me".  So, I go to the mall the other day -- the first time in I can't even tell you how long -- and looked around at my fellow mall shoppers trying to discern what was in their minds when they got dressed.  There must be a code I can't crack because I never figured it out.  I didn't see much of the fashion forward thought that I see on the blogs. 

My conclusion -- appeal to your own sensibilities and I headed off to Lands End.  I am comfortable there -- hanging close to their sale rack which is still too pricey but you gotta do what you gotta do.

Gladiator sandals?  Hmmm....heading off to SAS Shoes. 

My feet hurt, I have arthritis, I am 60 something -- does anybody care what I wear on my feet?  Doubtful.  I am pretty sure nobody is looking at me saying "what WAS she thinking".  Actually, I am pretty sure nobody is looking at me at all -- I have reached that invisible age.

 That is fine with me.

That means I can do what I want -- dress for comfort, read what I want, frequent the locally owned businesses, just make myself happy.

I am friends with a couple who have recently moved from Los Angeles to Asheville, North Carolina.  They are people who, how can I say it, are right up my alley.  I grew up in an arty, literary, unconventional sort of existence that made me feel different than all my contemporaries.  This couple is so like the people my parents were friends with.  In any event, they have this gorgeous home in Asheville and occasionally the Mrs. will post photos of her lovely abode.  It is like a veritable art gallery.  The things they live with have history, like a small table that was her bedside table as a child, and the art is magnificent.  I am sure that if I were to visit I would be quite rude in just looking at all their stuff.  They have good stuff. 

But the point is, they live with what they love and don't worry about making it look like a furniture store showroom with meaningless things.  I love that.

That is a perk of being older -- you have a history and your environment shows it. 

As I am aging I am noticing that my spending habits are changing.  While I would still like to binge shop once in a while, I am noticing that I am definitely going for quality over quantity and I tend to not throw things away quite as readily as I used to.  Yesterday I had an almost uncontrollable desire to toss everything in my bathrooms and go "redecorate".  However, I talked myself out of it and decided I would rather go to the new bookstore and buy a new book.

I realize that it is only June but my thoughts have been meandering toward Christmas.  We have two locally owned stores close by that I really like -- Toyworks

 and Monkey and Dog Books. 

I think my Christmas shopping for the kids will be centered around these two stores.  Again, quality over quantity.  The toy store is pricier than, say, ToysRUs but they have unique items and I think I could do ok there.  I don't buy for the children like I used to -- they all have enough to open their own toy stores -- so I like to look for things that are maybe a bit unusual.  The book store has such a lovely variety of books and the location is magical -- the corner of a catering business -- I know how it sounds but if it were around when I was a child I would have loved to have spent a rainy day in there.

Again, I have finally become comfortable doing what I want.

And part of what I want is to frequent local businesses.  Our new bookstore -- The Last Word -- has such great potential. 

 
It is lovely.  I am hoping it grows into a modern day Rosengren's of San Antonio fame. 

It was announced that they are going to become part art gallery as well.  Now, if somebody would just bring a coffee pot it would be wonderful. 

So, as I awoke this morning, giving thanks for being here another day, I thought about how my and Hubs life has evolved.  We are finally free spirits.  We can progress through the rest of our days as we please.  I can wear what I want and what makes me happy.  I can bob my hair and go without makeup if I want.  NOBODY CARES!!! And if I don't care then it is ok.  We don't have to keep up pretenses. 

Whew! What a wonderful day!

(Ok, I know this was a completely random post!)