Wed 26 Jul 2006
When I was in high school…. I rode the bus. My brother drove or was driven by a friend… but I rode the big yellow dork machine. My brother, by the way, was older and far cooler than his little sister.
The school I went to was fairly affluent…. my family was not… but the school was a regional school that served some very high rent districts. I generally went to school to smoke in the bathroom and attend my art classes. Never really feeling like I fit in with one particular group… well… maybe the girls who smoked in the bathroom in lieu of eating lunch. (FYI: I have since quit smoking). I kind of always felt out of place… like the kid on scholarship.
Sometimes, I still feel like I am the scholarship kid.
I was running late this morning… the cowboy got up early and I went to bed late the night before… so I had no time to get ready for the day. Quick…hair in pigtails and out the door.
I had an orthodontist appointment this morning… enough said. Adult orthodontia is no laughing matter. So the image you should be getting is… BRACES, hair in pigtails… denim skirt and linen kaftan shirt. Oh boy….
I made a pedicure appointment at the RED DOOR SPA last week knowing that it is difficult to accomplish much after my ortho guy does anything to my dentition. So off I go to my appointment in the ritzy outdoor shopping venue that is reminiscent of the outdoor malls in California. You know… the ones with boutiques instead of stores? Yeah, that one.
Boy, did I get the looks. Every shop that I walked in to I was greeted with the WTF??! look.
And… funny that… I didn’t care. I went to get the best damn pedicure that I have ever had… met some really nice people in the chairs near me… and cashed in one some precious time that I did not have to think about potty stuff. (THANK GOD! He is doing great… but I am so damn tired!)
Thanks to my wonderful D. for a gift certificate for Mother’s Day. I had enough left over to subsidize next month’s visit. ( I even got to cash in my Victoria’s Secret Gift Card from Valentine’s Day)….
I like pigtails…. I tolerate my braces… and I just don’t give a damn anymore about feeling out of place. So… that club that I always felt like I didn’t belong to? Yeah, I renamed it.
It’s the Rat’s Ass Club. Meaning, I don’t give a rat’s ass about stuff that doesn’t matter.
There are many, many memberships in my club. We are always welcoming new members. Wanna join?
July 27th, 2006 at 12:26 am
I think I was in this club long ago. Mind you I wasn’t smoking in the girls’ room, but never fully belonging is pretty much my place in this world. In reality, I’m too cool to be comfortable with the un-cool amoung us and not cool enough to actually be cool. And frankly I envy the un-cool the most…they seem so happy with their spot in the world, somehow finding their spot and enjoying it.
Still looking for my spot somedays — but I will say this, my knitting buds — now that’s a group I’ve finally think of as MINE.
Oh, and I’m thrilled you are finding a good sense of self too. And big congrats to cowboy for doing the potty thing so well. By the cruise our boys will be standing next to each other at the urinal. (and I’m *SO* not ready for that sight.)
July 27th, 2006 at 1:03 am
Sign me up. Lord knows I don’t give a rat’s ass about many many things!
July 27th, 2006 at 4:14 am
Giiiiiiirl count me as a veteran member! I’m usually just trying to keep myself emotionally fit I get to wear whatever the hell I want. And I like having two ponytails, pulling my hair into one gives me an awful headache.
July 27th, 2006 at 8:50 am
Sign me up. In high school, I was never part of any clique because I hated how one would decide to dislike the other. So, I had friends, but never GROUPS of friends who were friends with each other too.
Still that way. Just an old hippy at heart.
July 27th, 2006 at 9:10 am
I love you, E
July 27th, 2006 at 9:28 am
Sign me up! You’re going to want a button for this.. aren’t you? lol
July 27th, 2006 at 9:30 am
I am definitely a member of that club! I was never part of a clique, I did my own thing and avoided as much drama and crap as I could. I never really fit in to any group in particular, I had friends from several different groups, and just avoided all of the rest of them. I didn’t have the patience to deal with caddy stuff then, and I don’t now!
July 27th, 2006 at 10:00 am
I’m a lifelong platinum member. Here’s a few stats for you. I’ve worn glasses since I was 18 months old, am biracial at a time when not many biracial kids were around yet, and have always been kind of a “nerd.” I’m right there with ya!
July 27th, 2006 at 10:17 am
I don’t know that I can join until I completely manage to give up caring what others think of me but I’m working on it. Can I be an in-progress member?
July 27th, 2006 at 10:38 am
Who is that awesome girl with the pigtails and the great pedicure? Oh, yeah, my girl E!!
So cool you are!
Love ya!
July 27th, 2006 at 11:02 am
I am so glad you are starting a club…I have been a solo member for years! I have never had braces, but have always been festivly plump…LOL
I think the reason I didn’t fit in in Highschool was because I was the only one who didn’t care about fitting in…I was doing my own thing and hanging out with several groups instead of one click.
It might not have paid off as I now don’t really have too many friends…LOL That’s ok…friends take away from knitting time…I have socks to make!
July 27th, 2006 at 11:02 am
Ooh, Ooh! I used to smoke away my lunch hours and art was the only class I didn’t ditch. My school wasn’t affluent, rather far from it. It was a small, country school, but if you weren’t in sports or a cheerleader you didn’t count. I no longer smoke, but I’m still obnoxiously rebellious regarding the “in” crowds. I proudly shop at garage sales and thrift stores… okay, so this is partially because we’re broke, but I’ve always enjoyed a good bargain. I eschew stores that have ladies spritzing free perfume samples. Can I be in your club?
July 27th, 2006 at 11:24 am
Wow - so many of us on the same wavelength. Had this convo a day or so ago with an “old” friend. Yup, I was in the (formerly dork club), smoking in the girl’s room, ballerina, punk rocker. Scared the other penny-loafer Mum’s on the PTA, still get comments from strangers about my earing count, etc. I now belong to the “I’m good with who I am club” AKA “The Rat’s Ass Club”. The people I need to impress, ARE. The others, WHATEVER. Hey, I figure at my age and stage in life, I’ve earned the right to thumb my nose at the Suburban Princess Club members. You don’t know total freedom until you step outside with mismatched socks, no makeup and not a care in the world - like when you were 8. Remember age 8? Who wouldn’t want to feel that free again? Awesome thoughts E. - thanks for sharing with us :).
July 27th, 2006 at 8:26 pm
I can’t pass up on membership in THIS club! I think I’m going to be needing one of the Gold Plus memberships, thankyouverymuch.
(I knew there was a better name for this year than The Year of No Makeup. I now rename it the Rat’s Ass Year. Thank you.)
July 27th, 2006 at 9:07 pm
I am right there with you, now and 90% of the time.
July 27th, 2006 at 9:21 pm
I’ve always felt like I wasn’t in the club, so I would proudly be a member of yours. First club meeting at Borders this Monday?
July 28th, 2006 at 1:46 pm
What a great post! I want to join! I never wear makeup (and don’t even paint my toenails) , don’t fix my hair, rarely wear jewelry, etc. and usually don’t shave my legs… and I don’t give a rat’s ass who is upset by it….
On the other hand, I DO give a rat’s ass about people and relationships–as you do too, obviously!–and would love to join your other club, too–the Pay It Forward club. Things have been crazy around here lately and I have not gotten my act together yet, but I’ll be participating!
July 29th, 2006 at 12:51 pm
Woohoo!! Yeah, I’ve definitely been in that club for awhile. It’s a great club to be in. Actually…I kinda hope for my kids to be members too. Helps build a strong sense of self.