Saturday, May 21, 2011

Whimsical?

Whimsical is not an adjective that I - or anyone who knows me well - would use to describe me.  Dependable - yes.  Responsible - yes.  Serious - yes.  But whimsical?  Never.

But as I got dressed today that is the word that popped into my head.

See, I have not exactly embraced the turning-50-and-becoming-a-grandmother phase of life.  While I may only feel 35, the calendar - and my aching joints - keep reminding me that is not the case.

So I decided this spring to embrace the poem, When I Grow Old, I Shall Wear Purple.  Not embrace it as in become a member of the garish red-hat society, but rather, I really like the last lines as they are paired with the first

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

....
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple. 



In other words - stop caring so much about what others think and start living for me.  So I have decided to begin embracing this new-found attitude by adding the color purple to my wardrobe.  I needed some new t-shirts anyway (I think after five seasons I can safely say that I got my money's worth) - and so I focused on purple Ts rather than my traditional black and brown palate.

Yesterday I decided to treat myself to a trip to Charming Charlies in celebration of another completed school year.  By adding all these purple shirts to my wardrobe, I decided that I wanted a purple watch to match.  I found one (and a ring and a bracelet).  So today when I got dressed I put on my purple T - my purple watch - my purple ring - and my purple bracelet.

Now this will sound silly, I know, but I have always admired painted toenails - somehow it signifies a lady of leisure to me -- which is probably why I never take the time to provide myself with that luxury.  I mean there is the time it takes to actually paint - and because I am so inexperienced, the inevitable clean up around each toe - and then the added time to sit and wait until the paint dries so it doesn't smudge.  It was just not worth the effort.  But today....today I decided to treat myself and I took the time to paint my toenails --- PURPLE!

And when I finished I felt like a teenage girl again.  So free, frivolous, and well....whimsical.

Yes, I am not yet old, but I shall wear purple and embrace this new phase of life.

15 comments:

  1. Oh, how I LOVE it! You're living on the wild-side and I am so proud of this celebration. I think I will join right in... I will wear my turquoise shirt (because everyone looks good in turquoise!) and I will wear my amethyst ring. I adore the bold and the brave and yet I have always lived in the timid. It's time to let go and celebrate.

    Here's to whimsical!

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  2. PS - Think you look mah-velous!!

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  3. I wasn't allowed to wear purple as a child - my dad said it reminded him of funerals - and still have no purple in my wardrobe. Maybe I need to take a page out of your book and live on the wild side!

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  4. This post brought a big smile to my face, Molly!

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  5. LOVE this!! You look fabulous! Hooray for whimsy:)

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  6. That color really suits you, you know? And I love the toenails. I've been dabbling in light pink toenails lately, a blast back to my teenage years!

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  7. This is your color!! Your face looks so happy and fun!!! I love the toes...embrace this new you!

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  8. Molly, your self-portrait is absolutely beautiful. I love your smile! And, you only have to take a look at my blog to know how I feel about purple. LOL

    I love purple and have quite a bit of it and also pink. Dark pink is a favorite as well. And...painted toenails are a must in my book. For me anyway. I'm so glad you are feeling light and bright and whimsical!

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  9. Molly, somehow you slipped off my blogroll when I moved from google reader. I found you through another blog and realized how much I missed hearing about your life. Pls forgive me? Now I am wondering who else I missed?

    I think it is very cool that you have found the new you and a cool color to boot! Enjoy your Sunday and life...as well.

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  10. Molly I am loving the purple!! It has become a huge colour in my life recently too. Last year when I found out I was pregnant all I could picture was a beautiful purple nursery...even before the ultrasound told us the baby was a girl. I knew because of the purple! Enjoy this time.

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  11. Purple is your color!!! Here's to spontaneity, simple joy--and whimsy :)

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  12. Good for you!! And you look vibrant and happy in purple! It suits you!

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  13. Yay YOU! Glad to see you are relaxing a little bit. Should be good for your stress level.

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  14. HaHa! That is so cool. I still have myself on waaaaaaaay too tight of a leash to ever imagine painting my nails--toes or fingers, but congratulations to you. I have been adding purple to my wardrobe, and even to my home, which I thought would never accomodate it. According to Feng Shui, adding purple will bring wealth into your life. If nothing else, it adds change.

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  15. Kudos to you, Molly! And purple looks great on you!

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