I went to Atlanta this weekend, and I went through a few boxes of photos - I came across some photos of me during about a three year period that made me laugh:
Ninth Grade. This was before a date with my first *real* boyfriend. I was attempting to wear my hair straightened, and that was just a bad idea. I adored this dress, though. I had a ton of cute clothes because, again - nice and skinny. And by that, I was maybe a size eight or ten - as an "adult" - that was my smallest size.
I would tell her to quit fighting her hair, and to really think about protecting her heart. I would suggest that maybe dating a Senior as a Freshman wasn't a great idea, and to listen to what other people said about him. I would tell her to relax, and smile.
Tenth Grade. The hair was definitely nice and long, and I had given up on straight hair. The sweater was orange and cashmere - it shedded on everything. I have paired it with a black blazer (why?) and a scarf to keep the hair back/add volume. I bought the earrings at Pier 1.
I would tell her that getting her heartbroken would happen more than once, and the pain was temporary. I would tell her that she is killing it this year in school, and that her life is going to be more amazing than she can possibly imagine. I would tell her that she should wear that sweater often, and that her smile isn't fooling me. I can tell she's sad, but she won't be forever.
I wonder what I would tell her:
Not much - she seems to have it figured out. Just because someone tells you to sit up or smile, or whatever - doesn't mean you have to. You do you, slumpy baby!
ae
Eighth Grade. It was the graduation dance, and clearly, I was ready! I loved this dress, even though it wrinkled like a mother. Note the brace face and awkward hair don't. I was in the middle of growing out my hair, and I tied it back with ribbons, lace, strips of fabric. I was rail thin, and I rarely smiled showing my teeth - this was the one good photo of the bunch.
If I could talk to her, I would urger her to stand up straight. She is about to meet her friends for a pre-dance dinner at Applebee's - her date won't be there. She will be the only one at dinner without a date, and she will feel awkward, but she will sit at the head of the table and make lots of jokes and be fun. Her date will meet her at the dance. I would tell her to walk away from him, and fast. He was never really nice to her. And so many other boys would have been.
Ninth Grade. This was before a date with my first *real* boyfriend. I was attempting to wear my hair straightened, and that was just a bad idea. I adored this dress, though. I had a ton of cute clothes because, again - nice and skinny. And by that, I was maybe a size eight or ten - as an "adult" - that was my smallest size.
I would tell her to quit fighting her hair, and to really think about protecting her heart. I would suggest that maybe dating a Senior as a Freshman wasn't a great idea, and to listen to what other people said about him. I would tell her to relax, and smile.
Tenth Grade. The hair was definitely nice and long, and I had given up on straight hair. The sweater was orange and cashmere - it shedded on everything. I have paired it with a black blazer (why?) and a scarf to keep the hair back/add volume. I bought the earrings at Pier 1.
I would tell her that getting her heartbroken would happen more than once, and the pain was temporary. I would tell her that she is killing it this year in school, and that her life is going to be more amazing than she can possibly imagine. I would tell her that she should wear that sweater often, and that her smile isn't fooling me. I can tell she's sad, but she won't be forever.
I wonder what I would tell her:
Not much - she seems to have it figured out. Just because someone tells you to sit up or smile, or whatever - doesn't mean you have to. You do you, slumpy baby!
ae
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