Love you, you weirdo. I remember when you cut your hair and denied it for years (to the point where I questioned my own sanity). And I'm reliving it all right now since I have your clone as a child. Jesus take the wheel :)
The original gaslighting. And I am so honored you gave birth to my little clone..it makes me think of one of the plotlines in "The Vanishing Half". You must read it!
Weird people are the best people, and I appreciate your weirdness from the bottom of my heart.
Brit Bennett is truly an icon in the making. It's so cool to be able to watch her career blossom...I can't wait to read every single thing she writes! You should check out some of her other essays, they're great.
You were not a weird child You were are unique individual It was very exciting having you in the house we never knew what you were going to do. You are always your own person Made you so special love you love you
The editor notes are what I always look forward to reading, but I loved, loved, loved this one! I could totally picture a little you bobbing your head to “Walk Like An Egyptian” LOL. That baby pic of you is adorable. I definitely admire you even now for saying what’s on your mind and love you for all your quirks for the short 2.5 years I’ve known you. I was just telling a friend how some people have outgoing personalities with quirks and have a ton of friends who find it hilarious. It just works for them. but if someone else were to idk make weird faces or noises bc they felt like it, people wouldn’t take to that the same way or find it endearing...if that makes any sense at all. And maybe that’s why a lot of people aren’t fully themselves.
I hear what you're saying-- it's probably easier for more outgoing people to exercise their quirks because doing so often becomes a part of their personalities, but I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. Those behaviors that make people individual can manifest in a myriad of ways, down to a person eating the same, very specific breakfast every morning. I actually think it's those subtle things that are most fascinating, even if they aren't as boistous.
The visual of little Meghan in my head- mischievous and wild- seated in a church class, being a bizarre ham for no one but yourself (and the lord?) is my favorite new visual.
When I was little I discovered a sexual innuendo one can replicate with your own two fingers in a peace sign and your tongue. I kept doing it- innocently unaware of its meaning. Purely because so many of my family members laughed at it and I would (then and now) do just about anything for a laugh. Only now, looking back, the only thing I was doing was solidly ruining any and every group family photos by sneaking that in there. Sorry grandpa!
Perhaps our young selves would have gotten along swimmingly!
P.s. Britt Bennet’s article really is beautiful and profound. Gonna have to let that one sit with me to mull over all she has to say. The best writing offers reflection like hers does. Thanks, as always, for sharing.
I would love to see photos of little Holly, making an "innocent" peace sign with tongue inserted next to grandma and grandpa. Your comment actually made me think-- for outgoing children, I wonder how much of the quirkiness was a result of the reactions we got from our families/friends. Children are so impressionable that a positive reaction could play a significant role in the shaping of behaviors...if we were from families who didn't appreciate, or even celebrate, our nuances, would we have turned out differently?
Would a weird kid sing the entirety of “Take Me Or Leave Me” from Rent: The Musical word for word via webcam? Would he even go as far as to seductively spank his own behind while reciting the line “Don’t you want your girl HOT”? If not , than I’d say I was pretty regular.
In that same sorority I faced a similar proclamation. I "clapped back" by doing things like wearing black lipstick to the next all sorority presidents meeting and refusing to wear the suggested slutty corset to the saloon social (proud of you in that moment too for dressing as "salon" if I recall.) I loved the weirdo in you, and whole heartedly agree with this edition. Be you!
Love you, you weirdo. I remember when you cut your hair and denied it for years (to the point where I questioned my own sanity). And I'm reliving it all right now since I have your clone as a child. Jesus take the wheel :)
The original gaslighting. And I am so honored you gave birth to my little clone..it makes me think of one of the plotlines in "The Vanishing Half". You must read it!
Love love love weird little baby Meghan! I'm weird, always have been. Weird people are the most interesting!
Also, Britt Bennett is so talented and insightful.
Weird people are the best people, and I appreciate your weirdness from the bottom of my heart.
Brit Bennett is truly an icon in the making. It's so cool to be able to watch her career blossom...I can't wait to read every single thing she writes! You should check out some of her other essays, they're great.
You were not a weird child You were are unique individual It was very exciting having you in the house we never knew what you were going to do. You are always your own person Made you so special love you love you
The editor notes are what I always look forward to reading, but I loved, loved, loved this one! I could totally picture a little you bobbing your head to “Walk Like An Egyptian” LOL. That baby pic of you is adorable. I definitely admire you even now for saying what’s on your mind and love you for all your quirks for the short 2.5 years I’ve known you. I was just telling a friend how some people have outgoing personalities with quirks and have a ton of friends who find it hilarious. It just works for them. but if someone else were to idk make weird faces or noises bc they felt like it, people wouldn’t take to that the same way or find it endearing...if that makes any sense at all. And maybe that’s why a lot of people aren’t fully themselves.
I hear what you're saying-- it's probably easier for more outgoing people to exercise their quirks because doing so often becomes a part of their personalities, but I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. Those behaviors that make people individual can manifest in a myriad of ways, down to a person eating the same, very specific breakfast every morning. I actually think it's those subtle things that are most fascinating, even if they aren't as boistous.
The visual of little Meghan in my head- mischievous and wild- seated in a church class, being a bizarre ham for no one but yourself (and the lord?) is my favorite new visual.
When I was little I discovered a sexual innuendo one can replicate with your own two fingers in a peace sign and your tongue. I kept doing it- innocently unaware of its meaning. Purely because so many of my family members laughed at it and I would (then and now) do just about anything for a laugh. Only now, looking back, the only thing I was doing was solidly ruining any and every group family photos by sneaking that in there. Sorry grandpa!
Perhaps our young selves would have gotten along swimmingly!
P.s. Britt Bennet’s article really is beautiful and profound. Gonna have to let that one sit with me to mull over all she has to say. The best writing offers reflection like hers does. Thanks, as always, for sharing.
I would love to see photos of little Holly, making an "innocent" peace sign with tongue inserted next to grandma and grandpa. Your comment actually made me think-- for outgoing children, I wonder how much of the quirkiness was a result of the reactions we got from our families/friends. Children are so impressionable that a positive reaction could play a significant role in the shaping of behaviors...if we were from families who didn't appreciate, or even celebrate, our nuances, would we have turned out differently?
Would a weird kid sing the entirety of “Take Me Or Leave Me” from Rent: The Musical word for word via webcam? Would he even go as far as to seductively spank his own behind while reciting the line “Don’t you want your girl HOT”? If not , than I’d say I was pretty regular.
Let's not forget the blankie-on-head costume....
In that same sorority I faced a similar proclamation. I "clapped back" by doing things like wearing black lipstick to the next all sorority presidents meeting and refusing to wear the suggested slutty corset to the saloon social (proud of you in that moment too for dressing as "salon" if I recall.) I loved the weirdo in you, and whole heartedly agree with this edition. Be you!
I feel the exact same way about you — always willing to be yourself!