I have a hard time with change. Change to me is like eating a bowl of rice with ketchup — it is not entirely unpleasant, some people even like it, but there is something a bit unsettling about it. When I look back over the trajectory of my life, it probably didn’t help that routine was engraved into me from a young age.
My first lesson in shunning variety came in the form of picking out what to wear in elementary school. Either because she thought they looked good on me or because she had a very curious sense of humor, my mom dressed me in her own take of a school uniform — pink, purple and yellow sweatsuits (and not the swanky Juicy kind either). When I was in the lower grades, she would help me get dressed, pulling up my elasticized waist up and over my sweatshirt, creating a neat, tucked-in look. On days where I felt particularly sassy, I might puff out my sweatshirt a bit after it had been tucked in to lend the look some edge. Some days I would wear an all purple suit, other days I would switch it up with yellow pants and a pink top, but as sure as you could count on someone scraping a knee on the playground, I would be wearing a sweatsuit.
Although I find change hard, that is not to say that I am not good at dealing with it. In fact, on my resume, I will often list adaptability as a notable skill, right alongside my impressive ability to eat copious amounts of snacks. Once I had a boss whom I liked. I didn’t know how much I liked her until she told me she was leaving the company, and I surprised even myself by bursting into tears. In an effort to console me, she wanted to know if I had any questions for her. I did have questions, but none that I thought she would understand. She wanted to know if I was worried about the project I was working on and if I’d get to finish it. But I really wanted to know who would keep a tube of expensive French cream on her desk to moisturize her perfectly manicured hands after every trip to the bathroom now? Certainly not her! There would be someone new, someone sloppier undoubtedly, someone who would lead in a cruel, tyrannical way. (Of course this never came to fruition, but it could have). When the new boss came, I adjusted quickly, slipping back into the same mode I had been pre-favorite boss’ departure, and life went on.
Recently, I’ve realized that I might expect a boss to leave now and again, but then there are some things which I had believed should never change. But as I’m learning, aside from peanut allergies and the like, most things will change in some way or form. And it is an uncomfortable thing to have to come to terms with. Which is exactly why I must soon leave Alan for someone who values ritual and consistency above all else, either a highly obsessive compulsive disordered man with excellent oral hygiene and neat fingernails or an OCD grandma who spends every Sunday morning at church and every other free moment laboriously dusting her collection of ceramic pig figurines.When I say the sweatsuit dress code started young, I really mean it started as soon as I learned to stand on my own two feet. See below. That’s me in the middle with Denise and Nat. And notice how I’m the only one with my sweatshirt tucked into my pants as if my pants just might fall down completely without the extra girth of the sweatshirt to hold them up? My mom is such a jokester!
Cute picture, and I hope you're teasing about leaving Alan.
Humorous post, unless you are serious about the Alan part. Then it would be a rather harsh way to break up.
Nooo……don't ditch Alan!
But the sweatsuit thing, my mama did the same thing except with my hair! How embarrassing!
Omg! Nat looks so cute! All of you do, all bundled up and best of friends =)
I'm totally not serious!! Don't worry! 😛
You three little girls are totally cute in your sweatsuits! It is tough to accept change sometimes, isn't it? Sometimes it's best to jump right into changes head-first! but I'm not talking about eating a bowl of rice with ketchup, that just doesn't sound pleasant…
Nice. Glad to know I wasn't the only one hampered by my mother's fashion in school.
I reread the part about Alan at least three times! I couldn't believe what I was reading. I'm glad you confirmed you were joking!
Holy sweat suits, Batman! I love this picture soooooo much! You have no idea!!! I swear your mom must have gone clothes shopping with my hubby's mom at one time because we have a pile of photos of him dressed in very similar attire, except his suit is navy blue. What really makes these delightful images so awesome is that not only is his top tucked into his pants, but his sweat suit is actually one or two sizes too small, revealing his bright canary yellow and brown striped socks (which I believe matched his sneakers) all the way up to the middle of his shins. I tried to persuade him to let me frame one, but it was a no go. Oh, well. I guess I should be thankful he hasn't burned them.
Thanks for sharing, Sobrina. Incidentally, I'd go with the guy with OCD over the grandma with the pig figurines. Sure, you basically described Mark Somers/Summers(?), and waking up next to the Double Dare guy might be hard to stomach, but he has access to lots of candy and will not fail to clean something if asked. Sure beats an old lady with a penchant for preaching, and an annoying habit of talking to her sweet little piggies as she wipes their ceramic tushies with a static-free cloth.
LOL. You are like the sweatsuit mafia!
Sobrina, I also had to re-read your comment about Alan again several times. Glad you clarified it. You don't know me as I imagine you don't know a lot of your followers who enjoy reliving youth through your postings of such a happy life.. I am glad you have such great friends who enjoy life with you. I am sure that Alan really appreciates what a great friend you are to him. I really hope that he is well on the way to being in good health again. I did not see another posting about his tests since your Tweedle Dum post.
I am sure you will one day be a great mother who would NEVER dress her children in Sweat suits :>}
You were a darling baby.
Keep on posting. We all enjoy your style.
Thank you Suzanne!!! Yes, it was a poorly made/set up joke :/ But definitely just a joke!
MunkyBt, I love your comments 🙂
That outfit is priceless! My fashion qualm as a kid was stirrup pants – my parents insisted on dressing me in them, but i hated them so I would slide the stirrups to the back of my ankle and therefore look ridiculous. Oh, and I was before my time on the waistline. I refused to wear my (stretch) pants on my waist, preferring them on my hips. Since this is not how they were intended, it looked a bit funny.
Well, I love your blogs, so I guess it's a fair trade! ^_^
I'm so relieved! I thought you were serious about leaving Alan! HAHAH. I know what you mean about messiness. Dan and I are both pretty clean, but when we're together we both get lazy because we think the other person should clean. Haha. But it's awesome when we work as a team and get things done. You are so lovely. Hooray for your blog.
what a great photo!!! Thanks for stopping by our blog–let us know if you ever make something!