The night before school, I could barely sleep.
My new plaid dress was hanging on the closet door.
My white ankle socks with the ruffled trim were folded neatly inside my black patent leather shoes.
My number 2 pencils were sharpened.
My sandwich made, wrapped in waxed paper tucked inside my metal red plaid lunchbox.
Everything was ready. Except me.
I was way too excited to sleep.
After school we’d come home and change into our play clothes. School clothes were for school. Play clothes were for jumping rope, riding bikes, hopscotch and playing tag. Then at night we’d lay out another outfit on the chair or by the closet door for the next morning.
Fast forward a few years and it’s time to choose outfits for first dates, homecoming, school dances, sporting events and the like. Enter those girlfriends who gave you their honest opinions.
Who would believe the mirror when your best friend is standing right there to give you her honest feedback? On everything, even things you didn’t want to hear. “That outfit? No, for crying out loud! Try this one instead.” Or “You look like a dream! He won’t take his eyes off you all night!”. Trying on outfits, serious ones and silly ones. Laughing so incredibly hard, at them and yourself.
Then there were outfits for going off to college, graduations, first jobs, weddings and before you know it, it’s back to school time. But now it’s your kids, nephews and nieces.
Life got busy. Getting kids out the door, going to meetings, groceries, laundry, preparing meals. In the process of life, getting dressed moved out of the fun lane and into the “I just need to get out the door” lane.
You didn’t decide to stop playing, you just stopped having time.
Fast forward a few more years. The kids are grown. Your calendar finally has a little breathing room. But somewhere between hot flashing, retirement dinners, doctor’s appointments, and date nights, getting dressed still feels more like another decision to make than something to enjoy.
Well, maybe it’s time.
Not because you’re trying to turn back time to your 20’s. I mean really, would you even want to? But rather, because you finally have time to enjoy getting dressed again. Because it’s not about mirrors. Sometimes it’s about borrowing someone else’s eyes when you can’t quite trust your own.
Maybe your bestie lives across town, maybe she lives across the country.
Can you imagine?
You and your best friend, each standing in your own closet, coffee in hand, laughing over Zoom as one of you says
“No, not that one…try the blue sweater instead.”
And just like that…
you’re that girl again.
Who would you call?