Today's the Day

I'm going to pick up the Finished Artwork today. Daughter and I are off to the big city, with the promise of a Big Bookstore and lunch someplace special. In that order.
Y'all would have been so proud of me at the Accountant...I left the office feeling like I can very well be in charge of my own Artists Life, so THERE. My eleven year old self did a little tap dance in the parking lot and took a bow. No cartwheels in strappy sandals and a dress....
I guess I should give some background here for those of you (Most of you, I suspect) who have no idea what this whole dress up thing is all about.
I was not allowed to wear pants as a child. Except in Extenuating Circumstances (the Race Track, for instance, where Pants were worn for Safety) I was Dressed Up. White gloves, patent leather shoes, pink dresses with very scratchy petticoats, yes. Pants, no. You Dressed for dinner. Didn't speak until spoken to. Dessert was Earned. Points deducted for using the incorrect fork for salad.....sigh.
I took me a long time to convince my parents that all of the other girls were indeed wearing pants to School, where I desperately wanted to Fit In. (Wearing Country Club clothing and carrying those heavy Russian novels and Physics textbooks didn't help...) The response was "If all those other girls jumped off a bridge....."
I longed for a pair of jeans. Levi's 501 to be precise. I got the "not unless you are mucking out horse stalls" lecture. I actually worked in a barn for a summer to earn the Right to have a pair of denim jeans. I carefully wrapped them in paper and snuck them to school and hid them in my locker. Wore them for a pep rally (because ALL of the other girls had agreed to wear jeans....) and someone took a picture which ended up in the yearbook and I was busted.
For. Wearing. Jeans.
In High School, mind you. In California, in the 70's.
Any idea at ALL why I might be slightly rebellious when it comes to my clothing choices NOW?
I love to wear overalls and handknit socks and gardening clogs....When I see a middle aged person driving a new harley? Fist pump, baby, I KNOW the feeling.
Speaking of which, several weeks ago, I came downstairs to find a note on the kitchen counter. One of the daughter bird's signature pencil on canary yellow legal pad Notes about Something Important.
Here is the list:

MOM
Madonna
Joan Jett
Pat Benatar

Title of this List?

Middle Aged Women Who ROCK!

I LOVE this Child!

Okay, we're off to the Big City...wish us Love and Luck!

Comments

[Kim]

Best of luck, Greta, and lots & lots o' love!
xxoo

[annie]

Good luck Greta...hope to see you and Daughter Bird there!

Oh my gosh, the note she left you has me all choked up. Priceless.

[Rachael]

Have a magical day, love. I know you will. See you SOON!

[Em/Michelle]

This post has me grinning ear to ear. I understand that no-pants rule, though it was never enforced on me. And the list? Priceless.

[Brenda]

I grew up in the 70s. The jeans rule in our house was only two days a week, and they couldn't be dragging on the ground (which everyone else's were). I HATE flood pants to this day!

[Kathleen]

Daughter bird
sweet
sensitive
thoughtful girl

[ann]

I love your daughter!

[Nathania]

I'm there with you in spirit, Greta! Much love.

[Melissa]

Yep. That's all I have to say. (OK.. you rock, as well :-) )

[Sue]

My dad was very similar. I was allowed to wear pants (after all I did own a horse, and went there every day after school) but NO Overalls. And if I had anything new, I had to wear it around the house before I could wear it to school, to make sure that it was "acceptable"! Still can't quite understand how mom & I snuck the cute little T-shirt past him that said "PHUQUE OFF" on it!

Can't wait to meet you in Maryland!!

[Carrie]

Fist Pump!

[Loose Ends Melissa]

Wish I could be there! March on.

[Ann]

Dear Greta,

You may have the dessert of your choice without my permission, or anyone else's.

You have earned it.

xoxo A.