Honestly, I thought my "clotheshorse" days were over.  Once I realized that I'd gained weight that wasn't coming off, I became depressed.  I'm trying to be over it, but sometimes I relapse.  One of my biggest issues with weight (other than it slowing me down) is the inability to be as fashionable as I'd like.  I finally decided a couple of years ago, after buying clothes only when absolutely necessary, that I was going to indulge my clothes-loving self again and re-up my wardrobe.  I can honestly say that I have more clothes than I need or will likely ever wear, but I have no regrets.  The total spent on everything in my closet is probably less than a lot of people spend in one season.  That is because I buy thrift, resale, estate, rummage, discount, online and I never turn down a freebie.  Take the outfit above for instance.  I paid $5 for the jacket, $3 for the shirt, $2 for the skirt, $3 for the vintage bag, and nothing for the shoes.  I'm stylin'.  Profilin'.  No, really.  Look.  That's my profile.

Determined to look my best, not at all times, but when I need to, I have amassed a collection of dresses, shoes, accessories and jackets that will keep me in "new" outfits for a while.  Obviously, I never got over the whole "play dress up" thing from my childhood.  Some girls aren't into that, but I totally was.  Dolls, playing beautician, making clothes and poring through the Sears catalog were a big part of my growing up.  I also played quite a bit of softball, climbed a few trees and jumped a lot of double dutch.  I'm so glad that no one told me what I should be doing, they just let me be me.  Today, in addition to my love of fashion, I love to garden, read and make things.  Right now my hands are covered with yellow paint because I'm remaking a chandelier and I'm looking forward to taking in a couple of soccer games this weekend.  Unfortunately, my days of participation seem to be over, but that's just something else I have to accept.  I still find ways to be active after wallowing in my slowness and stiffness for long enough.  You'll have to take my word for this, because you won't see me posting any pictures of my interesting attempts at movement.  I still have my pride!  After I get all the paint off my hands, I'll probably paint my nails.  I live on both sides of the fence.  I'd even cut the grass, but the lawn mower isn't working.  It made me mad that I had to pay someone to cut it today, but it was about six inches long, and the dandelions were longer.  The true sign that spring is here...those "pretty yellow flowers" as a college roommate described them.  They didn't have them where she was from, and she was appalled that people cut them down. One woman's weed...

I recently found a Facebook page for those of us who like to stroll down Memory Lane.  It's very interactive, and I've already stepped in it a few times, but I'm sure that as soon as everyone "gets" my sense of humor, the kids will be allright.  It's great to find people who have memories and experiences similar to mine.  There are 14th Streets all over.  I feel a bunch of great stories coming on...