I Don't Care, I Love It

Another nighttime blogfest, sneaking one in at what feels like the last minute, although technically I have 4 hours. Today I got to spend the day with my mother-in-law and my niece Kaydance. We picked Kaydance up from school and then took a trip to Michaels to get more of those rubber bands that make up the bracelets all the kids wear these days. It was such an interesting day because I remember when I used to go to craft type stores with my grandma after school. I miss her and am grateful for all of the fun projects she allowed me to take on, even if they weren't perhaps great works of art when I finished.

Mom in the background, Kaydance hammin' it up, like usual. 

Kaydance is 9 and a total character. She is funny, sassy and just generally pretty fun to be around. I don't know that I was quite the same as a kid. Not that I was a bad kid by any means, but certainly more bookish. In the store, I told Kaydance that I was looking for a certain kind of picture frame and she asked as all kids inevitably do, why. I asked, "Well, why do you want another rainbow loom and more bands?" I expected her answer to be, because I like them or something in the ballpark, so I had to chuckle when she responded, "Because they're popular."

While I wouldn't mind being young enough again to have my grandma still around, you couldn't pay me to go back to a time when "Popular" was the ultimate decider of things. I had to have a Starter jacket in junior high because it was popular. I determined whether or not I was interested in boys based on their rung on the popularity ladder. Not that I was at the top of that ladder by any means, just that if I deemed someone below me on that ladder, there was no way I would day dream about dating them - completely out of the question.

Of course, even after school, this notion doesn't completely go away, unless you will it to by choosing your own path. I have to say that these days, I'm a lot more comfortable forging my own path. A recent example that made me chuckle had to do with a new pair of shoes that my mother in law bought for me because she said they reminded her of my style. (Side note, how cool is it that my mother in law Accurately picked out my style?!) I wore them to a family get together yesterday and my sister in law said "Are those the ugly new shoes you just got? Mom said you got a really interesting pair."

Chuckle that it didn't occur to her that if I was wearing them, I probably didn't think of them is ugly but that's sooo my sister in law and you just have to love her for it. No filter but you always know where you stand with her. While it may not always be as sugar coated as polite society might prefer, she speaks her mind and you have to admire the ability to simply not cave to others' expectations.

Anyway, back to the point of the story... when I was younger, that comment might have tarnished my love of the boots a little. I would have felt the need to re-evaluate if they were "cool" enough. Today I just think, "Awesome, my style isn't just like everyone else's. It stands out just enough to be called ugly by some people. Thanks for making my day."

What's in your closet or house or anywhere else that you love and don't care if other people don't get?

P.S. Here's a picture of the boots in question. Feel free to comment on them if you feel so inclined. It won't sway me. I love them. :)