Sunday, August 2, 2009

Hat Hazard

"Pink polka-dot panties, a black lace bra, and a cowgirl hat," she mumbled to herself the next morning. Then she smiled.
..............................................................................
Three days before, she sauntered into the camp castle, relieved after a hot day in the adobe city where she and her cohorts had found what would soon be known as the infamous cowgirl hat. They had wandered aimlessly about the town, stopping briefly to visit the oldest church in the country and to peruse the sparkly trinkets in shop windows. They stumbled into and out of little side-street bazaars and nooks, where natives laid out their wares and promised handmade authenticity for every piece: necklaces from Chiapas, rugs from Pakistan, stained glass wind chimes from Texas, baseball caps poorly stitched with the town logo in the colors of the local flag.. and on and on and on.

It was among the scarves and bags that she found the hat shop. She had almost given up on buying anything until the shopkeeper knelt down to the lowest shelf and dug out one last dusty item - the hat.

It was inexpensive, as far as hats go, but had a little bit of flair and a lot of moxy. "I want to feel free this week," she thought as she pushed the hat down on her head. "I want some dazzle in my life - some turquoise and whimsy." She felt that wearing a new hat might alleviate some of the drudgery of her life, some of the monotony and heaviness that having responsibility brings. "Yes. A hat might be just the thing to help change a person's outlook," she thought. She adjusted the brim a little and then shyly turned to her friends for their honest appraisals.

Their faces lit up. "That's the one," the first said, the other nodding in agreement. "A very nice pairing."

Two men walked by and turned their heads.

"I'll take it," she declared.
.............................................................................
The camp grounds were stunning. After a long journey, it was pleasant to see what would be home for the next week. The main building - the castle - was perched mid-mountain among the fragrant pine trees and weathered rocks. Beautiful, parturient rain clouds crept across the sky, heavy and confident.

"Here is where God lives."
...........................................................................
They were there for work. At least that's what their employer paid for. Truly, the day sessions were great- alive with collaboration and nuance. Each member of the circled group shared their varying ideas - good ones, ones that could logically be implemented into any strategy. Each supported the others, and a bond of friendship and trust enveloped the group. Work definitely got his money's worth that week and more. The members of the group were natural friends - all of them - which meant that after the work, playtime beckoned with her coy little index finger and a smirk! What could they do but heed her invitation? Yes. Of course they had to go.
..............................................................................
Each evening was it's own entertainment, as is likely to happen in a place where God lives with clouds and trees, rocks and camaraderie. Dancing, games, frolicking and hiking, and all around revelry claimed each night. "It's Carnivale!" they cried, understanding both the frivolity and danger of making such associations. Everyone was wearing proverbial masks. Everyone embraced the freedom in their spirits. Everyone danced for the first time in years.

That's why she had to do it.

There were natural hot springs down the trail. Until the last night she had successfully resisted them. She had been envious of the ones who went the night before, who had been caught in a torrential rain storm, but who were tucked snugly into the warmth of the springs, enjoying the juxtaposition of the earth's sulfury pools and the sky's refreshing version of the same . The last tie of responsibility - of being married to an expectation - was wearing thin. This was her last chance to be frivolous this week. Plus they were begging her to go, and they were being very persuasive.

Perhaps it was the intoxication of being wanted that sealed it.

Under the light of a glowing moon in an electrified air, she ran to her room to find something to wear. She hadn't brought her swimsuit. She hadn't brought any shorts. Really, it wasn't a huge leap to put on what she did. At the last second she grabbed her hat - confidence in turquoise and straw - and skipped out of the room to meet her friends at the hot springs.

She felt a little giddy at her own bravery as she shimmed out of her jeans revealing the pink polka-dots to them. Even more brave was the moment when her shirt came off, the black lace an adornment over her illuminated skin. Her last bit of resolve came from the moment she pulled the hat down on her head.

They were looking at her, men and women alike. She didn't care.

And then she eased herself down among them, smiling and brave, into the welcome arms of nature.

10 comments:

Ginger said...

p.s. For those of you who are worried that perhaps this happening might effect any and all relationships I'm in, rest assured. It has.. in a really, really good way.;)

Christine said...

You're my hero.

k a b l o o e y said...

I have to say, naked hot springs are one of my fondest memories from a trip through New Mexico. Thanks for reviving them.

Anonymous said...

Oh, interesting post! Liked reading it. :)

Be sure and pop by & leave a note & follow! It would really make my day! :)

-Laila
www.randomweavings.blogspot.com

Rochelle said...

Woo hooooo! Makes me want to get a cowboy hat and jump in a hot springs - polka dots or not! Love it!

Melissa B. said...

Barton Springs, perhaps? I've seen my share of nekkid folks in hats over there.

Unknown said...

Your prose is so vivid, I feel pulled into your posts...like I am there.

rainbow said...

I'm learning more and more about my daughter, LOVE HER even more. Glad you had a GREAT time. Enjoy the rest of the summer. LOVE YA LOTS!!!!!!

Helen McGinn said...

Wow. I'm going away in two weeks by myself for a week for the first time in years.....how much have you inspired me.....xx

rich said...

Sadly apropos within three days of your return, Jack has decided to throw up on your hat. Damn it real life. I hope the hat survives.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Hat Hazard

"Pink polka-dot panties, a black lace bra, and a cowgirl hat," she mumbled to herself the next morning. Then she smiled.
..............................................................................
Three days before, she sauntered into the camp castle, relieved after a hot day in the adobe city where she and her cohorts had found what would soon be known as the infamous cowgirl hat. They had wandered aimlessly about the town, stopping briefly to visit the oldest church in the country and to peruse the sparkly trinkets in shop windows. They stumbled into and out of little side-street bazaars and nooks, where natives laid out their wares and promised handmade authenticity for every piece: necklaces from Chiapas, rugs from Pakistan, stained glass wind chimes from Texas, baseball caps poorly stitched with the town logo in the colors of the local flag.. and on and on and on.

It was among the scarves and bags that she found the hat shop. She had almost given up on buying anything until the shopkeeper knelt down to the lowest shelf and dug out one last dusty item - the hat.

It was inexpensive, as far as hats go, but had a little bit of flair and a lot of moxy. "I want to feel free this week," she thought as she pushed the hat down on her head. "I want some dazzle in my life - some turquoise and whimsy." She felt that wearing a new hat might alleviate some of the drudgery of her life, some of the monotony and heaviness that having responsibility brings. "Yes. A hat might be just the thing to help change a person's outlook," she thought. She adjusted the brim a little and then shyly turned to her friends for their honest appraisals.

Their faces lit up. "That's the one," the first said, the other nodding in agreement. "A very nice pairing."

Two men walked by and turned their heads.

"I'll take it," she declared.
.............................................................................
The camp grounds were stunning. After a long journey, it was pleasant to see what would be home for the next week. The main building - the castle - was perched mid-mountain among the fragrant pine trees and weathered rocks. Beautiful, parturient rain clouds crept across the sky, heavy and confident.

"Here is where God lives."
...........................................................................
They were there for work. At least that's what their employer paid for. Truly, the day sessions were great- alive with collaboration and nuance. Each member of the circled group shared their varying ideas - good ones, ones that could logically be implemented into any strategy. Each supported the others, and a bond of friendship and trust enveloped the group. Work definitely got his money's worth that week and more. The members of the group were natural friends - all of them - which meant that after the work, playtime beckoned with her coy little index finger and a smirk! What could they do but heed her invitation? Yes. Of course they had to go.
..............................................................................
Each evening was it's own entertainment, as is likely to happen in a place where God lives with clouds and trees, rocks and camaraderie. Dancing, games, frolicking and hiking, and all around revelry claimed each night. "It's Carnivale!" they cried, understanding both the frivolity and danger of making such associations. Everyone was wearing proverbial masks. Everyone embraced the freedom in their spirits. Everyone danced for the first time in years.

That's why she had to do it.

There were natural hot springs down the trail. Until the last night she had successfully resisted them. She had been envious of the ones who went the night before, who had been caught in a torrential rain storm, but who were tucked snugly into the warmth of the springs, enjoying the juxtaposition of the earth's sulfury pools and the sky's refreshing version of the same . The last tie of responsibility - of being married to an expectation - was wearing thin. This was her last chance to be frivolous this week. Plus they were begging her to go, and they were being very persuasive.

Perhaps it was the intoxication of being wanted that sealed it.

Under the light of a glowing moon in an electrified air, she ran to her room to find something to wear. She hadn't brought her swimsuit. She hadn't brought any shorts. Really, it wasn't a huge leap to put on what she did. At the last second she grabbed her hat - confidence in turquoise and straw - and skipped out of the room to meet her friends at the hot springs.

She felt a little giddy at her own bravery as she shimmed out of her jeans revealing the pink polka-dots to them. Even more brave was the moment when her shirt came off, the black lace an adornment over her illuminated skin. Her last bit of resolve came from the moment she pulled the hat down on her head.

They were looking at her, men and women alike. She didn't care.

And then she eased herself down among them, smiling and brave, into the welcome arms of nature.

10 comments:

Ginger said...

p.s. For those of you who are worried that perhaps this happening might effect any and all relationships I'm in, rest assured. It has.. in a really, really good way.;)

Christine said...

You're my hero.

k a b l o o e y said...

I have to say, naked hot springs are one of my fondest memories from a trip through New Mexico. Thanks for reviving them.

Anonymous said...

Oh, interesting post! Liked reading it. :)

Be sure and pop by & leave a note & follow! It would really make my day! :)

-Laila
www.randomweavings.blogspot.com

Rochelle said...

Woo hooooo! Makes me want to get a cowboy hat and jump in a hot springs - polka dots or not! Love it!

Melissa B. said...

Barton Springs, perhaps? I've seen my share of nekkid folks in hats over there.

Unknown said...

Your prose is so vivid, I feel pulled into your posts...like I am there.

rainbow said...

I'm learning more and more about my daughter, LOVE HER even more. Glad you had a GREAT time. Enjoy the rest of the summer. LOVE YA LOTS!!!!!!

Helen McGinn said...

Wow. I'm going away in two weeks by myself for a week for the first time in years.....how much have you inspired me.....xx

rich said...

Sadly apropos within three days of your return, Jack has decided to throw up on your hat. Damn it real life. I hope the hat survives.