Pink is Today’s Black (I Have to do Laundry)

I didn’t plan to take the last week off from writing. I just had to learn firsthand that it is… substantially… more difficult to write something funny when nothing feels funny. Weird how that works.

In the interest of sparing you from dark, bitter, sarcastic, bitchy, or openly hostile, I waited until today when I  made an effort to change my attitude.

I think it was my sweater that did it.

I tend to dress to my mood. I also dress for the weather, the season, and other practical things, but on the impractical side, you are not likely to find me putting on a cheery yellow top when I feel like I am skulking around with claws extended.

I’ve heard this is bad practice. That one should always put the most effort into appearance on the days when one feels the worst:

Bad hair day? Draw the attention to the beautiful shoes.

He dumped you? Killer new red shirt, perfect make-up.

Fever and flu?  Ready for the red carpet.

Instead of taking this advice to heart, I’ve been wearing a lot of black and gray.

And today? I dunno, I ran out of options? Or I was more focused on the fact that it was 26 degrees outside and I had morning playground duty? I put on a big pink sweater.

It felt very wrong. In fact I started with a light floral shirt underneath it and I just couldn’t do it. I traded for dark brown. It matched the shoes.

A co-worker who is also feeling the negative workplace vibe called me out in short order, “Pink, huh? You’re trying the ‘fake it til you make it’ approach?”

(She was also wearing gray and black, so I’m not totally crazy.)

I explained that I just didn’t have any more warm, black, clean clothes and that it was definitely a façade. But laughing about it surprised me and made me feel a little better.

In fact, by the time I got home from school, I felt like I had a better plan for tomorrow than hoping my sore throat would get worse so I could call  in sick and throw myself a birthday pity party. I will tell you all about it… tomorrow.

 

I guess we call this shade "Fake it 'Til You Make It" Pink.

P.S.~ In the interest of full disclosure, I must tell you one more thing. I didn’t get entirely away from the “I’m Just a Little Black Raincloud” look today. The first item (well, almost first) that I put on this morning was a pair of knee-high, thick, black, wool ski socks. It was really cold out!

 

~ by Lindsey on November 9, 2010.