I was thinking before about growing up and all that and how there's a 'net sig line about growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional. I wonder how tolerant we really are of that? Is it okay to have a free sprit type personality or outlook on things as long as you don't look or dress that way? Why is it that I hear things like, "She/He should act their age" or "....dress their age" In the past, say in the '50's, I think that most people were fairly cookie cutter and that the options were somewhat limited. And if you did choose a different style, you pretty much stuck out like a sore thumb. I remember when a woman moved into the house across the street from us back in the '60's. Ours was a typical tree lined street in a nice small town. The house were all occupied by either families, or couples whose families had grown, with the exception of one man who I think was a widower. Then a woman and her two boys moved in across the street. I heard that she was a former Mrs America. She was a 30ish version of Ann Margeret, tight pants, high hair, sweet personality with a soft voice and smile. I think her younger boy was named Jacque, I'm not sure about that though. But, I do know that she didn't "fit in". Of course, at that time, I didn't know anything about divorce or alimony. But, I did know that she didn't look like the other mothers. And I thought that was pretty cool.
When we were in Toronto, late or I should say, early one morning, we were heading out for air and so Mary could have a smoke and there were two young girls in the foyer waiting for a cab. The one was particularly Goth. I struck up a conversation with her about how much I liked her boots and how sad it was that you really don't see many Goths my age. Where do they go I wondered? Do we change because we wnat to, or because we're expected to? Do we change to suit our jobs, or our familes or spouses? What do you think when you see people that don't really "fit the norm" and isn't it amazing how "earth mothers" or old hippies are just so accepted now.
Well, me and my cornrows are off to get a massage. I think about it. I'm also gonna think about how I wantto dye my hair black.
Posted by Mickey at October 18, 2003 8:45 AM