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like phyllis. i am jealous of phyllis in a way, as i have told GC. she’s an economist/accountant who works with the trade group, and she may be the plainest woman in the world. she wears gigantic velour scrunchies or beaded glittery hairnets in her very long wavy and fading blond hair, and denim skirts that go down to her ankles. she stands at her desk most of the day rather than sit and type, because she gets bad back pain. she waters flowers constantly and i once got stuck in a conversation with her about blackberry picking. she doesn’t have a wedding ring, but she says “we go blackberry picking” and “i hurt my wrist when we were mountain biking.”
she’s one of those women of indistinguishably middle age, like librarians or women who work at historical recreation sites or gardens. they appear a lot in northern westchester, outdoorsy bookish women who wear neutral colors and let their hair air dry. she’s worked at the same place for 13 years and once in a while breaks out a pair of red closed-toe strappy pumps to match the scrunchie. they look incredibly cheap, but i still give her a nod of approval when we pass in the hall, she to get her third cup of herbal tea and i to get my fifth cup of coffee.
some days, i really envy these women. i’m being extremely prejudicial in the literal sense, but they always seem so content in their frumpiness or eccentricity and proud of their dorky hobbies or ridiculous reading habits. like linda, the widener check out lady who used to faith heal bindy. actually, she was probably just crazy.
i’m mystified by people who seem to thrive in mundane routine and lack of concern for all things trendy. i’m not pretty or rich enough to be fashionable but too self-conscious to not care; i’m too afraid of change and instability to be completely adventurous and unconventional, but i’m also terrified of every day being the same.
i wish i could wear a purple corduroy jumper and tevas and let my hair down and just be good at one thing and contented in that, and not care about boys or career paths. as sad as it is, larry david is right and i am envious of a gardener. she’s so serene and resolved in the path she chose. somehow caring for ficus plant and sporting jc penney shoes have come to represent to me the certainty and serenity that my life lacks.
I love the character study
