melissamleddy posted: " Ssshhh. Water streamed out of the faucet as I brushed my teeth in record time. I spat out some remaining toothpaste when my younger daughter poked her head into the bathroom. "Can Grace and I have Crunch bars?" Anna asked. Halloween was still two w" Melissa Leddy
Ssshhh. Water streamed out of the faucet as I brushed my teeth in record time. I spat out some remaining toothpaste when my younger daughter poked her head into the bathroom.
"Can Grace and I have Crunch bars?" Anna asked.
Halloween was still two weeks away, yet I was fairly certain the girls had eaten most of what I'd bought for the trick-or-treaters. But I had to get to work, so I gave a thumbs-up.
"Can Rose have some too?"
Rose was their beloved babysitter. Again, I thumbs-upped.
"Yes!" Happy scampering to the kitchen.
I wiped my mouth on a towel. Glanced at the time. OK.
I told Rose and the girls to have a fun evening. I'd be home a little after 9 p.m. Dinner, as usual, was mac and cheese.
Hug, hug, hug, bye!
I hopped into my car, drove to the library, arrived on time for work. Whew.
My dress code for working at the library is fairly casual—for example, leggings are OK. Which is fantastic, because women everywhere know leggings are the best kind of pants.
Really, though, what's not to love? Leggings are comfortable. They can be dressed up or down. And they're forgiving (I never met an elastic waistband I didn't like!).
During fall especially, my go-to outfit is leggings paired with a tunic-length top. This is pretty much what I wear from mid-October through, well, at least St. Patrick's Day. (Yes, I am that boring.)
Now, we all know that not all leggings are made equally. Some leggings are a bit more opaque and/or a bit more tailored than others—these are what I call my "fancy" leggings—while others are super stretchy and/or feature fun patterns. I reserve this second category of leggings for grocery-store runs, Anna's Saturday-morning soccer games and my own semi-athletic activities (walking on the Rail Trail, vacuuming—I'm burning some calories here, right?).
...for example, leggings are OK. Which is fantastic, because women everywhere know leggings are the best kind of pants.
A recent Thursday featured fairly nonstop action: I worked at the library until 3 p.m., at which point I picked up the girls and one of their friends from school, took them all to an extracurricular performing-arts class, and then headed to a PTA meeting (because I'm the accidental secretary of the PTA, as you may remember). Somewhere in there I made dinner too. Getting dressed for the day, however, couldn't have been easier: All I did was throw on my autumn "uniform" of black leggings and a tunic-length top, along with a plush black vest, and I was ready to go.
I get the majority of my tunic tops from Lou & Grey. Over the years, I've bought multiple versions of this top, the Signaturesoft Cowl Top. If you know me in real life, you definitely have seen me wear this top in either pink, red, white, off-white, light green, white-and-green-striped... I love Lou & Grey Signaturesoft Cowl Tops. I can wear them comfortably and confidently all day, from work to school pick-up to anything that comes next.
My sister, on the other hand... "UGH," Jenna said, on a recent FaceTime call. "I hate when you wear those shirts. And you have so many of them."
"Why, hello to you too," I replied.
"UGH," Jenna repeated. "Love the person. Hate the shirt."
Likewise, I love my sister dearly, and I wasn't hurt by her, er, strong reaction to my clothing. The truth is, I'm no fashionista. (The truth also is, I probably don't need any additional cowl tops.)
My tried-and-true brands for leggings are Boden and Eddie Bauer—what about you, friends?—but maybe it's time I branch out.
On Wednesday evening, several members of the PTA, including myself, made dinner for the school district's board of education, which was holding a meeting at our elementary school. I could swear I remember reading that the PTA secretary position was "sending out 2 to 3 emails per month," but...yep, there I was on Wednesday, making vegetarian pasta salad for the board of education.
No worries at all, though, friends (especially Sarah and/or Amy, if you happen to be reading this!). I love my daughters' school, and ultimately, I feel grateful and humbled to be able to support it through my passions for positive-energy communications and community-building (and the occasional pasta salad!).
After I made the pasta salad, I made dinner for my actual family. During the course of my cooking, I splattered extra-virgin olive oil across the front my top (one of my cowl ones, of course!). I tried blotting the spill out with water; instead, I made it worse. And...I had no time to change before the board of education meeting.
The next morning (Thursday), I relayed this story to my colleagues at the library. (My supervisor had called me at 7:25 a.m. to ask if I could come in at 9, due to unexpected short staffing; sure, I'd replied.) "I got to the meeting, and I looked crazy," I said.
"You looked human," my colleague Chris replied, kind as always.
You looked human.
I loved that, friends. I totally loved that.
To be human is to be imperfect, malleable, wildly hopeful. And also, I like to believe, open to moments of wonder and grace, whenever and wherever they may appear in our lives: during a conversation at work—on a FaceTime call with your sister—during a hello-again hug at the end of a long day.
These are my fancy leggings.
Photo credit: Pixabay
+
Like what you just read? Then check out Melissa Leddy's e-books on Amazon.com. Short fiction and creative nonfiction writing that's engaging, witty and from the heart.
No comments:
Post a Comment