I'm hanging with friends in a suburb of Philly, a very college town, liberal place. We were at the park today and I noticed something:
Where I live now, the majority of the moms at the park have perfectly coiffed hair and meticulously applied makeup. They are usually in their yoga pants, and have just come from a tennis match at the gym. The park is their stopover before they take their children to dance class.
Here, the women wear no makeup. The grey shows in their hair. They are in comfortable but not necessarily trendy clothing. When they leave they are off to walk to the library, where their kids will pick out their own new books for the reading program.
I feel much more at home here.
There are a lot of things I love about where I live. But I think I just put a finger on why I haven't made a close friend yet.
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25 comments:
Oh man, I know exactly what you mean...anywho, I'm finally catching up on my reading adn YOUR road trip amoung other things. Hope you are having a blast - love your new (ish) banner.
You and I could definitely be real life friends.
I have always marveled at the women of Dallas and their matchy-matchy everything, even on the most casual of occasions.
With you totally on this. I have a preference for people who are casual and comfortable.
Oh yes. I have exactly the same problem here. I've lived here longer than any place I've ever lived (except with my parents!) and have made only one friend.....
You are in my back yard! I completely understand.
I think it's hard to fully get the southern vibe unless you're from the South.
I'm not. I've tried, and I seem to always be stepping on toes in the South, without meaning to.
I'm definitely more comfortable around the Philly folks you mentioned.
I hear ya. That sounds like my kind of place, too.
One good thing about the military life: there are all kinds of people wherever you go. :)
Wish I could live by you again...maybe someday. :)
Oh yes. Appearances are everything in the south. I don't exactly care for it.
I hear ya. I don't think I would fit in too well with the perfects.
it sounds a lot like my town.
wanna move here?
Yeah! That's how we roll here in the tri-state area -- comfort is everything!
Oooh, I can't even remember the last time I was all done up like that. I'm always in comfy clothes and ALWAYS on my way to the library. :)
I must defend the Southern honor! I have been in the Deep South all of my life. I do wear make-up-but it takes me about 5 minutes to put it all on. I wear my gardening/exercising/playing clothes 90% of the time. I have GREAT-close friends. The secret is I have looked where others have similar interests-running group/neighbors/church small group. Being a friend takes lots of time and grows with time-but well worth the sacrifice. It all starts with ONE conversation that somebody has to start! Be that somebody!
100% with you on this... I'm chasing wee ones, who has time to be fashionable and in full makeup??? Comfy, people, comfy!
ugh. Me no wear yoga pants.
How do they get the makeup to stay ON, with all that HEAT??
It's high summer, here (37 degrees in the shade this aft), and even if I had put any on in the first place (which I didn't), the ol' greasepaint would have been dripping off of my chin in no time flat!
xoxo CGF
ps. You're welcome up here in the "laid back" Great White North, ANYTIME.
Do you think it is a north vs. south thing?
I think AD hit it on the head.
Big hair, big jewelery, lots of make up in the south. (I'm a western granola girl, now, but I embrace my southern roots.)
Have a safe and FABULOUS trip! Loving the pictures and updates!
Wow that struck a chord with me...we live in the South but I'm a PA girl at heart. When we drive across the MD to PA border it's like the air molecules re-arrange themselves.
In fact, I'm often not sure why we still live in the South.
I hear you! I would feel much more comfortable in that park in Philly!
I know EXACTLY what you mean. In my neighbourhood, I am the equivalent of "white trash". I've never really thought of myself that way, but apparently, having money in this hood is VERY Important. Sucky moms.
What an interesting comparison. The moms of our local park don't really match either description. (Or maybe I just haven't really observed too closely. I'll open my eyes more next time.)
While I'm not sure exactly where I fit in as a mommy (other than maybe this online oasis of blogging), the college town sounds much more appealing. And I'm quite sure I would feel particularly out of place among the coiffed.
Everyone around here wears polarfleece sweaters and fanny packs and elastic waist pants. WE're REAL casual.
Ooh, nice observation. I've noticed how much I'VE changed in the last two years being in England-- everybody shows up on the school run in makeup and heels, but the group I left behind (the closest friends I've made during our military gypsy years) never worried about how they looked and the library or the picnic in the park were the top spots to be. sigh.
THAT is what life should be like.
And, I'm enjoying your vacation pictures btw, I just don't have a lot of time to comment while the kids are home. I will soon.
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