I got some hand me downs today.
Let me say it’s been a hot second since that has happened.
I used to get them in elementary and middle school.
High school once in a while too.
Hated hand me downs.
Tossed away, given away, old grumpy clothes that weren’t pretty or bright, that were already tattered.
By the time I was in high school though, I was buying my own clothes.
Mom’s rules.
She paid for school supplies.
And as soon as I started working I paid for my school clothes.
I think I got the raw end of the deal in hindsight, but you know, whatever.
I was frivolous with my first real paycheck.
I bought a brand new leather jacket with a removable rabbit fur collar.
God damn I loved that jacket.
Loved it to tattered bits.
It was my own version of the Velveteen Rabbit.
I spent my entire summer earnings on that jacket and I did not give any of the fucks.
It was mine.
And it was fucking glorious.
Top Gun had come out the that year and it reminded me of the leather bomber that Kelly Mcgillis wore in the movie.
That was probably the last time I wore a hand me down.
At least for a while.
Now.
Well, fuck, we just call it a clothing swap and throw all our stuff in a pile and go hog wild and wow, this will work great at Burning Man!
I have gotten some sweet pieces from clothing swaps.
And.
Today I got a bunch of clothes from my boss.
It’s funny, I don’t always have a real good feel of my size, I think I’m bigger than I am and then I obsess about how I look and who the hell wants that?
I try to stay off the scale.
And I have felt that I put on a little weight over the last few months.
And I did.
Like two pounds.
OH NO!
I laughed my ass off when I weighed myself, not something I do very often, it’s not necessary for me, I can get all wrapped up in the stupid number and then be wrapped up in the idea that I’m not enough, and well, that shit is shit.
I’m a beautiful woman.
I’m not stupid.
But.
Often times I just don’t see it.
Oh, I see it, but I don’t act it.
I remember an ex boyfriend years ago looking at me from across the kitchen table at his house.
“What?” I asked him, “what are you staring at?”
“You really have no idea how beautiful you are do you?” He asked.
I blushed.
He got up from the table, straddled my lap and smashed me with his mouth.
God.
He was a good kisser.
We could make out for hours.
I miss make out.
It’s been a while since I have been properly kissed.
Anyway.
I digress.
I was two sizes larger than I am now.
But I was perfect and beautiful and he couldn’t keep his hands off me.
Note to self.
You are exactly the way you are supposed to be, the body is exactly how God wants it, relax.
So.
My boss has money.
Obviously.
And nice clothes.
And good taste.
Granted.
Not my taste.
And we’re not the same size, but we’re not that far off either.
She’s maybe two sizes smaller.
So.
Her jeans.
Not a fit.
But I took them anyway.
“Take them, try them on, give them away, sell them, they’re yours,” she said and dumped a huge pile of clothes on the table.
Fuck yes.
And she was totally correct.
A lot of them are not my style.
The jeans are so not a go.
She’s shorter than me too.
But.
They’re Vince Camuto.
I can sell that shit.
I also scored a sweater that surprised me, I wasn’t expecting to like it, but I was thinking, hey lady, you’re going to Wisconsin for Christmas time, a sweater might be a nice thing to have.
I mean I have two.
But I’m there a week and it gets cold and I’m going to want more than a couple.
So I tried it on, also a Vince Camuto.
And it fits!
And it’s cute on me.
Score.
I also scored three super cute long skirts that I thought, yes, these too, I will wear them in Wisconsin.
Skirts in winter?
Fuck yes.
Layered over wool tights or fleece lined tights, which I do in fact own quite a few pair of, paired with my black engineer boots and some layered thermals and a sweater.
Perfect.
Super stoked for the new clothes.
“New.”
Heh.
I’m not so picky anymore, nor so tied to it being new.
I have plenty of re-sale shop clothes, clothing swap clothes, vintage clothes.
I’m happy to accept the gift.
And I may not get much for the clothes, Crossroads doesn’t always take what I bring in, but they usually take a few things, and I’ll get a free lunch from it or a manicure.
I’m down with a free manicure.
Any old day of the week.
I might do some clothes shopping this month, I thought to myself this morning as I was sitting and sipping some delicious coffee.
I was sent a package of Stumptown Holler Mountain from a friend who commiserated with my grad school and full-time work hours.
Thank you my friend.
So good.
I “splurged” on the second cup and heated up unsweetened vanilla almond milk and made a cafe au lait and sprinkled it with raw cocoa and cinnamon and nutmeg.
Swoon.
I was happy.
Just a little.
Then I did my numbers for the month of October and tallied my expenses.
After that I did my spending plan for November.
Not bad.
Not too bad at all.
I may even have a few ducats to actually buy some new clothes.
Not much.
I don’t need much, especially after the windfall today.
But I could use a new pair of jeans.
Perhaps this weekend I’ll do that.
I was invited to go dancing tomorrow night and that’s a possibility.
And I have a coffee date and MOMA visit on Saturday.
Which makes me laugh.
I think folks have finally figured out that I have a membership.
In exchange for a coffee in the Sight Glass Cafe that’s inside the MOMA I will happily escort you into the museum for a free companion ticket.
I can take up to two people in with me at a time.
I can always handle doing another stroll through the 7 floors of galleries.
Always.
And perhaps I will get dressed up too.
I have some options.
And tomorrow.
Yes.
Is Friday.
Yay!
Making it through the week.
One
Little.
Baby.
Step.
At.
A.
Time.
Auntiebubba 