As I've gotten older, I've gotten less trendy and more sure of my personal preferences. So sure, that I gaily said to another mom today at preschool pick-up,
"I love your purse! It's so fun!"
The "purse" in question was hot pink. From a few feet away, it looked leather. I swear. I thought it was fun and offbeat.
Apparently it was actually a cosmetic gift-with-purchase bag that the woman's daughter uses as a play purse. I don't even think it was pleather.
Needless to say, it was like a flashback to seventh grade when I thought my crush came up to talk to me because he might like me back, but in fact he had a mirror on his shoe and I was wearing a skirt.
Because, really, what do you say when you realize that you've been supremely, embarrassingly naive?
Not that I had a crush on this woman, but I didn't exactly want her to think of me as "that bitch who thinks I'd carry a hot pink plastic bag" or "that poor woman who doesn't know what leather is supposed to look like".
Unlike seventh grade, I did not turn tail and run into the girls' room. I babbled something about liking pink too much. I did not convey my mortification, I'm pretty sure.
Yet I'm putting it out here for public consumption because I'm not even sure I should be so embarrassed. Most of the people I know fall into 3 categories; those who could care less what people thought, those who wouldn't think of giving another person a compliment and those who would have known that the bag couldn't be this woman's purse.
I will never make it into category 1. Despite tabletop performances of "Baby Got Back" during karaoke nights at more than 1 bar in Kansas City (in my defense, I was really drunk. . .each time), I don't like it when people think I'm an idiot. Make that "people I know".
Category 2 is not really me either. I like compliments.
In my youth, I'm pretty sure I would have been in category 3. But now I have 3 kids and I'm a freelance writer. . .I probably would use a gift-with-purchase bag as a purse, if it was cute enough and big enough.
I think I'll just have to embrace my naivete. Because I'm 38 years old and I'm just going to have to accept myself. Though I don't accept boys with mirrors on their shoes and women who carry their daughter's purses the same way they'd carry their own. That's still wrong.
8 comments:
Dude. I would have been flattered that you liked it if I was wearing a Target bag.
Sounds like something I would have done! So there. I used to try and care about fashion. Now I'm old enough to know I like what I like and if you don't like it, don't look at me.
I wonder if she thought you were being sarcastic and you were actually insulting her purse. I know I think people are doing that when they tell me they love my purple shoes.
Also, I was thinking it is unfair that people who want to look at women's underwear have that nifty mirror on the shoe trick. It sounds fun, but I have no desire to see a woman's underwear. I was about to complain that there is no fun trick for seeing guys' underwear, but then I remembered half the time it's sticking out anyway, and the other half of the time you just have to ask.
Oh man, I've used "Free Gift With Purchase" bags so often. I love them. In fact, I've bought the purchases specifically to have the bags before.And there are people in the world that will always be one of those three. And that is sad. But good for you for knowing what you like!
Dude. Where have I been? I don't know how long it has been, but I'm not getting your feed anymore and I'm a complete asshole and didn't notice until now. God. I suck and I fail and I'm sorry. Anyway, I compliment people about dumb things all the time. I once told a lady that I loved her daughter's outfit. Her daughter? Was a son. Who I basically called a girl and then insulted his mother's clothing choices. That was a bit awkward. Hope you're all doing well!
Dude. Where have I been? I don't know how long it has been, but I'm not getting your feed anymore and I'm a complete asshole and didn't notice until now. God. I suck and I fail and I'm sorry. Anyway, I compliment people about dumb things all the time. I once told a lady that I loved her daughter's outfit. Her daughter? Was a son. Who I basically called a girl and then insulted his mother's clothing choices. That was a bit awkward. Hope you're all doing well!
Sounds like something I would have done! So there. I used to try and care about fashion. Now I'm old enough to know I like what I like and if you don't like it, don't look at me.
I wonder if she thought you were being sarcastic and you were actually insulting her purse. I know I think people are doing that when they tell me they love my purple shoes.
Also, I was thinking it is unfair that people who want to look at women's underwear have that nifty mirror on the shoe trick. It sounds fun, but I have no desire to see a woman's underwear. I was about to complain that there is no fun trick for seeing guys' underwear, but then I remembered half the time it's sticking out anyway, and the other half of the time you just have to ask.
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