Monday, August 1, 2011

Electric Blue Shirley

It drew me like a bug to a bug zapper - a swatch of electric blue swishing down the church hallway. I zeroed in on the bright, happy hue of blue and tapped the lucky lady on the shoulder. "I love your dress," I gushed. "It's so bright!"
The woman gave me a brilliant smile. "You know, when I pulled this out of my closet this morning I wasn't sure I dared wear it. Then I thought to myself, 'Shirley would wear it,' so I went ahead and put it on."
Really? She wouldn't have worn it without my silent, absent stamp of approval?
I cannot fathom people calling each other to ask what the other is going to wear to whatever event they're both attending. What difference does it make?
Speaking of clothes, a couple of ladies recently talked about me while I stood beside them. After making vague references to some book they'd both read, one said, "And that's just like Shirley."
"What's like me?" I asked, not following their thread.
The other lady turned to me. "You're authentic to your style."
I blinked in surprise. "I don't even think about style," I admitted. "I just wear what I like."
The woman gave me a patient smile. "That's why you're authentic."
What is YOUR authentic style?

4 comments:

Pitterle Postings said...

I would consider that an amazing compliment!!

Shirley Bahlmann said...

Thank you, Patty Ann. I suppose it is a compliment. I think being teased a lot actually can help people accept themselves for who they are. You realize that wishing they wouldn't call you "Tall Tale" won't make you any shorter, so you go ahead and wear four inch heels to show them just how tall you can be!
If people only knew how fun it is to wear what you want to wear, then every person with clothes on would walk around smiling at everyone else.

Stephanie Humphreys said...

I was trying to explain this to my teenage daughter just the other day. I told her it is much more fun to wear the clothes you love, that look the best on you, and make you happy rather than the clothes that the fashion magazines think you should wear.

Shirley Bahlmann said...

You are a smart mom! I hope your daughter listens. It's a lot of fun to wear what "speaks" to you each day!