Sometimes A Little Rebellion Can Be Fun

It was summer of 2006. I had accepted a job teaching Interior Design, Child Development and Clothing at Bingham High School starting that fall. It was strongly encouraged that I attend Utah's Family and Consumer Science Summer Conference in Riverton Utah. I requested the time off from my retail position and made the 20 minute drive in my Toyota Pick-up (Which I need to take a moment to say that I miss it SO MUCH. There was just something about that truck that was so comfortable and made you feel . . . connected with the road, I guess).

Summer Conference is two days long and it was a difficult couple of days. It catapult me right into my adult life. No more being a kid. I was reminded of a quote from Raising Helen, where the niece is upset with her aunt, her new guardian. She screams, "Don't you remember what it was like to be young?!?!?" And Helen, the aunt, replies, "Of course I do! It was last Wednesday!!" All around me were reminders of adultness. Women in their 30s and 40s and 50s and so on. . . Women talking about students, about babies, about grandkids, about divorces. And all I could think was, I DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE THESE WOMEN. Of course, once you get to know someone you'll end up loving them, and I know that now. I know a lot of these women and I do love them. Some of them are great role models, and some of them are dear friends, but at the time this is what I saw:
Crocheting
Knitting
Frumpy clothing
Quilting
Some of the most boring shoes you have ever seen in your LIFE
Basically I just got scared of growing up to be. . . boring.

So on day two of the conference I wore:
A rockin' white tank top with skulls
A little gray cardigan
Black yoga pants
Pink shoes with skulls (I had a theme going. . .)

I AM NOT GOING TO GROW UP TO BE BORING!!!!!

Now that I know that my story is my own and that I will end up according to how I live my life, I've toned down a bit. I still dress up to the nines when I attend this conference but I'm not quite so intense. Growing up can be hard, especially when it happens so quickly.