Two Different Shoes

I was at a Welcome Wagon dinner many years ago when I looked down at my feet and noticed that I was wearing two different shoes. They were both black patent leather with grosgrain bows at the toe; but one was a kitten heel and the other one was a straight up 2 inch heel.

I feared the other women would notice.

Two years ago right around Christmas time at the end of a long shopping day I looked in the mirror and saw that I had lost one of my round cut diamond stud earrings.

I was heartbroken. I had worn them virtually every day since I had received them. But my husband, good man that he is, replaced them on Christmas morning. But the cut of the diamonds was different—the new ones were square.

And two weeks ago when I got back to my hotel room in Atlanta after a long shopping day, I found one of my earlobes to be naked. Once again, I had lost a diamond earring. And so my inventory has been reduced to  one round and one square cut ear bauble.

But unlike the woman of 20 years ago who feared judgment from other women for wearing two different shoes, I could care less about judgment for wearing two different earrings.

I am happily wearing an unmatched pair with no desire to replace either cut.

In many ways I feel free. It sets me apart from the crowd. I embrace the quirkiness. I welcome the reviews.

Because when you arrive at a certain age self-acceptance sets in. Priorities shift. Humor sits behind the wheel. And your aging skin becomes comfortable irrespective of what pierces it or who meets its gaze.