#YouKnowItsColdWhen

-

Of course everyone loves to talk about the weather. So there I was the other day, minding my own business as I grabbed a few groceries from the store. It was a chilly morning, thus I had seized a hat as I had rushed out the door. However, by the time I finished my walk there, I was regretting that choice. The weather was much balmier than I had thought. But because I didn’t want to take it off and sport hat-head, I was still wearing it. One of the employees spotted me with the hat and he gives me a grin. And then yells to everyone in the store, “We’re all going to die! Miss Wyoming’s wearing a hat!” Ugh. Not the way to win friends and influence people. Yup, now I was the punch line of one of those “It’s soo cold…” jokes. Great, just great. Laughing it off, I just waved to everyone who had turned to stare at me. Yes, remind me never to wear a hat again no matter how far below zero it may get. Like that’s ever going to happen, I live in the deep south. Home of ‘It’s 50 degrees thus the snow’s going start fallin' soon.’ More importantly, it drove home the point that I’m never going to be viewed as just one of the people from the neighborhood. Nope, nothing I can do will change the fact that I’m from somewhere else. Oh for the chance to be a chameleon, to be able to blend into any environment seamlessly. Yet, individuality can be such a blessing. Being unique gives me a chance to talk to people I normally wouldn’t. Thus, the employee who knows I's from a northern state. He’d asked me one day where I was from because I distinctly don’t sound Southern. Okay, okay, he got the state wrong in his pronouncement to the world. But, hey, he remembered the general area. So, I guess I just need to embrace who I am and who I am not. And if that means I end up being the punch line for a few jokes, well so be it. After all I can't change who I am and if I can't love myself warts and all then who else is going to?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

For fans of the Waltons

-
Image
This book is a slow and gentle read. When I was part way into the story, I had to double-check because this just didn't feel like a novel to me. This read more like a diary, Cora's private thoughts as she journaled out what she felt were the important moments of her life. While it didn't appear anything dramatic happened, this tale winds around the simple mountain life. Hardships, trials, family, and faith all weave together to mold this woman's heart and mind. Most interesting were the bits of outside events that filtered into this isolated community - the Civil War, WWI, the Spanish Flu, to name a few. This story is reminiscent of several others I've read over the years. Accounts of old-fashioned values that were the backbone of America for so long. These pockets of society which were often shunned because of their 'backward' ways. Yet, there are lessons to be learned -  perseverance in the face of tragedy, flexibility in all seasons, redemption from mista
Read more

Where is the best place to spill your guts?

-
Image
The other day I sat down at a fast food restaurant to eat my lunch, the place was packed. A few tables over, a woman chatted on the phone, very loudly. I tried not to eavesdrop, however, that wasn't possible at the volume she spoke at. It soon became apparent the conversation leaned toward that of a rather personal nature. She talked about how her cousin had fantasies about her that were rather inappropriate. Then she moved on to discuss in detail about her attempts at online dating. And how all her matches were 'cowboys who fish' or the like.  As I sat in silence, munching, I debated about saying something to this woman about it probably would be best for her to not air her private affairs this way. But before I could do anything, she got to the end of her call and something rather unexpected happened. She said to the person on the other end, "Thanks for the therapy session, I do believe these calls are helping me. And next week, I do think I'm ready for an in-off
Read more

Choose your own adventure!

-
Image
Okay, I was spending some time relaxing at a state park. A few days of nothing but enjoying the lake, the squirrels, turtles, deer and other wildlife. Recharging my batteries so to speak. When something odd happens. I’m sitting in my lounge chair, watching the squirrels dance in the trees. Occasionally glancing over at the corner of the lake I can see, checking to see how many turtles are on the log sunning themselves. Then a car drives into the campground loop, stopping on the side of the road. A young man gets out and pulls a big box out of the back seat. As he begins to pull things out of the of the box, I realize it’s a brand-new tent. Still has all the bits and pieces wrapped in plastic, which he’s now struggling with as close to the road as possible. I continued to watch as he’s barely into the camping spot wrestling with the thing. Wondering if I should go tell him he can use all of the space and he needs to pull his car into the site. And if I should also give him a few pointer
Read more