The first really dressy dress I remember owning was for my cousin  Judy’s wedding. I know some folks don’t consider Texans as Southerners, but in our own way, we are.  Weddings, of course, are important affairs for anyone, but in the South, they can be huge affairs.   My Aunt and my cousin were sorority girls, so this wedding, the oldest daughter as well as the oldest granddaughter, was enormous.  The wedding was in June of 1972.  The color scheme was rainbow, and each of the bridesmaids wore a differently colored pastel chiffon dress with a matching hat.  I was not the flower girl, but I did get to pass out the rice to the guests, which meant I needed something pastel and fancy; I wanted something pink.

I can clearly remember the dress, although it’s been more than thirty years:  it was a delicate silky pink gingham with white lace trim.  It was floor length and I wore white stockings and white patent leather Mary Janes.  I can’t recall actually buying the dress, but I remember the events surrounding the purchase.  We had to drive to Dallas as there were no big department stores in the nearest town, Arlington.   These days, I go to Dallas regularly, but in 1972, getting from Mansfield, Texas to Dallas was like an adventure.  Or maybe my mother just made a big deal out of needing to drive to Dallas to go shopping.  She  never has been much of a traveler.  I don’t remember trying on dresses and making this final selection, I do remember eating lunch after; I guess I’ve always been a little food driven and it was the first time we ate at The Zodiac Room, the tea room at the Downtown Dallas Neiman Marcus.

Funny how our minds and memories work and the choice of pink nail polish made me recall my first fancy dress.   Maybe it was a simple trigger of a color that reminded me, or maybe, I’m beginning to get down to the core of the person I truly am:  part tomboy, part girly-girl.   I’m learning how to play again and I am embracing my femininity.   When it gets down to it, I guess I just  I enjoy being a girl….and I hope you enjoy this lovely little song from “Flower Drum Song”:

Happy Friday!  I hope this finds you embracing who you want to be today.