Friday, November 17, 2006

Vanity

The title of this post is coincidentally the name of someone I met the other day. Mean parents if you ask me. Vanity is something I think I have struggled with in life. I recall in high school while living in California, my dear friend Harmony (yes her parents were pretty much hippies) serenading me with the words you're so vain, you probably think this song is about you on more than one occasion. It was my incessant insecurity about my appearance at this age and the need to constantly visit the ladies room to make sure everything was in order that prompted this. Granted she wasn't much better. Girl was obsessed with her eyeliner. I have since matured, and while try to put my best face forward, am a lot less preoccupied with my appearance. Pretty much, I like me. Call me narcissistic if you will. No, I believe a big part of letting go of those (painful and sometimes crippling) affects of adolescence and sometimes adulthood is really focusing on others more than yourself. And it's true, you pretty much forget yourself and everyone's happy. That took me some time to learn as I was painfully shy in my formative years, but realized that it's more about putting others at ease than bringing negative attention upon yourself.

All this leading into the following point: I am the only one of my parents children that will be home for Thanksgiving, and I kinda like it. At first it sounded a little depressing, but I'm really looking forward to the prospect. Sounds bratty I know. And it's not that my sisters and brothers in law, and all the kiddies will not be missed as they break bread (or non gluten food items for some of them) with the inlaws. I would be excited if they were coming, but I am looking forward to some low key time with the parents. I don't get much one on one or rather two time with them, and it should be nice. I can cook with mom, help her possibly finish ripping up the kitchen floor and refinishing it, possible painting projects, working on the website with Dad so we can finally get it up, and seeing the Grandparents without the usual rush of trying to fit everything into one little weekend.

Does this make me selfish? Vain? A narcissist? Maybe. Contented? Definitely.

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Oh, and something else focused on little ol ME and what happens in MY life so you better be interested.....

Yesterday was the mandatory AFLAC meeting at work. And I realized that the AFLAC lady is related to me. First cousin once removed if you will. So we chatted for a minute and then she got down to business and asked how many children I had, followed by an expectant gaze. I reply none, which received a quizzical gaze, and then added, I'm single, which received a concerned/sympathetic/shocked gaze. "Really?!" she asked, "well, I, I, wasn't expecting that.....
I don't......don't really understand........why you would be single....?" I sat quite comfortably (as I'm used to such responses and people you don't have to act so shocked at my expense.....I live with the knowledge that I am a single *gasp* girl everyday, and yet somehow make it through). I knew what was coming next, her husband (my first cousin once removed in-law who works with her) asks in his most paternal of voices, "well how old are you?", "26", "oh, well, you're fine, you have plenty of time...... doesn't she?", looking at his wife for confirmation. Thanks for the reassurance my new found family. And then it started, and I really shouldn't be surprised at this point.....she goes into how old all her children were when they married and how she "even has a son that didn't get married until he was 27!" Imagine......
and how he was discouraged by not dating and then one day "up and decided that he was moving to Texas because that was were he was going to find his eternal mate, and you know, he did! 20 months later. She had left on her mission just as he got there and when she came back they started dating and sure enough, she was his eternal mate!" I'm pretty sure that I started wincing each time she repeated the phrase "eternal mate" as it just sounded awkward.

So it's final. Decided. You can't sway me on this one. I'm moving to Texas. :)

5 comments:

Rachel said...

Whooo hoo! Texas is only 20 minutes away from me. Of course it makes a difference which side you move to, so please consult me first. (I promise I'll use my superior intuition to divine where your eternal mate is).

Britten said...

"Eternal Mate"? That is sick.

Move to Californ-i-a where the married are considered old farts and the unmarried hip and now. Unless of course you're gay...they want to be married. It's confusing really.

In other words, we are too screwed up out give a crap if you find your "eternal mate" or not.

Britten said...

Oh, and have fun with the 'rents on Thanksgiving. That is special.

Britten said...

Oh, and I commented on all your blogs I've missed in the past week. Just thought you'd want to know.

Mikie said...

My parents got married at age 27. Have to out-do them-- I'm gunnin' for 28 at least ;-)