Girding My Loins, French Braids, and Nostalgia

When I gird my loins (i.e. get myself ready to tackle the BIG things in life, like starting a new blog O_O) that means three things:

1. I get a snack - so I can tackle the computer without a break!
2. I change into comfy-yet-structured clothing - so I am not distracted
3. I get my hair up and out of my face - so I don't develop a headache

You see, my hair may be short, but it is heavy and tends to give me a headache if it is left entirely down for several days in succession. So if I am truly going to get down to doing work, I need to get it out of my face and up off of my head.

French braids are the best way to put one's hair up and away for work. They keep it out of your face and away from dirt, but also look nice. My boyfriend is very picky about my hair being down and accessible. So he HATES it when I pull it back in clips or other random ways. French braiding would seem to be a great compromise. Unfortunately I can't French braid my own hair. I never learned how.

Image from http://cf.ltkcdn.net/

Whenever I contemplate braiding my hair and give it a half-hearted attempt (like today), I am reminded of my classmate Ivy in middle school. Those three years I was in awe of Ivy's ability to calmly French braid her own hair into two perfectly symmetrical rows during homeroom. She didn't need a mirror or anything! I couldn't believe it then, and still hardly can now. What an incredibly useful skill! Only someone with a great mind and dexterity could accomplish that.

I look back now and wish that I had asked her to teach me how, or at least complimented her on her extraordinary talent. But you see, Ivy was the most attractive girl in my grade. Smart and funny, but too attractive to be taken seriously with her blond hair and early developed body. We weren't even in the same league - she was social and peppy, I hung out with the same 5 people and kept my nose in books. So while I respected this incredible ability of hers, it never occurred to me to talk to her.

In fact, I'm not even sure that I said two words to her when we were in the same AP biology class in high school! I don't know why. Except that I couldn't see this brilliant star in the same space as myself - we were as far apart as the east is to the west. But I wish I had. It probably wouldn't have mattered, but it might have been encouraging for her to hear as a teenager that someone in the top of the grade thought she was intelligent, was in awe of her hair-braiding skills, and could you teach me please?

The things we miss out on because of pride and misplaced senses of propriety. 

However, that's all water under the bridge. I may sit here with miserable excuses for braids and a creeping sense of shame, but I am quite sure that Ms. Ivy - with her perfect braids - is a very happy and successful adult with absolutely no need for my belated compliments.