FISH OUT OF WATER

"I've never seen you look like this before."

My husband stopped by the store where I now work part-time. Fortunately I don't have to wear a uniform, but we do have to don the company-issued shirt (not bad-looking, and at least it comes in many colors and styles). So there I stood in front of him: powder-blue logo tee layered on top of a white tissue tee with three-quarter sleeves (it's cold at work, especially when I have to putz around in the freezer), jeans, and sneakers.

He espied the box cutter safely nestled in a holster hanging in my back pocket and the gloves on my hands. I can always read my husband's mind and at that moment he was thinking: What the hell is she doing here?

I am a girly girl, it's true. I prefer to wear skirts, I like nice shoes. I always wear pretty lingerie, no matter what I'm doing. Last week when my manager hired me and explained the dress code, he said I had to wear closed-toe shoes at all times. Then he looked at the pair I was wearing -- metallic indigo fabric with platinum leather trim, with a pointy toe and delicate, medium-height heels -- and shook his head. "But you might not want to wear those," he said amusedly.

On my first day of work I wore low-rise Citizens, fitted on the thigh, and a pair of my most comfortable pair of shoes: black suede Tod's loafers. If my manager was bemused, he hid it well. But I quickly learned that when you're constantly bending, kneeling, and climbing as I am now, fashion jeans might not be up to the task. And now I know why my comfy shoes are called loafers: they're worn to loaf around in, not actually work in.

Which explains what I was wearing on Day 2, when my husband decided he had to see me at work to believe it. He saw the watch I was wearing, the one he gave me last Christmas, the one he said was also for the next 10 Christmases (and birthdays), too. "Take it off and give it to me," he ordered. "Customers might think this place actually pays you well."

So I'm now staring at my nails as I type this. Every single one has broken off and the pretty, shimmering pink nude polish (have I mentioned yet that Chanel Delice rocks?) is hopelessly chipped. Note to self: no more fancy manicures from now on. And I can forget the flat iron in the morning; I'll probably have to pull all my hair away from my face and tie it back, lest it gets in my eyes while I'm up on a stepladder, leaning over to stock heavy cans on the topmost shelf.

Yes, for now I'm a fish out of water, I admit. But this gilded fish is going to plunge right in the frigid water and swim -- in strictly utilitarian footwear if need be. But still always in pretty lingerie. Some things will simply never change, even as I'm trying to change my life. Because no matter what happens between now and then, I still get to have one.

Comments

[mell ditangco]

Ate gigi, *hugs*

:)

You will be ok...

[Tito MELVYN]

...putz around in the freezer??
I thought all along you were still doing relocations...hmmm. I just saw you 2 months ago so I guess there must have been changes. Regards to your hubby. And it was nice to see again after so many years.

[i♥make-up]

Hey Gigi,
I have been reading your blog off and on for about a year or so, whenever my schoolworks not killing me. I love love love it!!! And I also know how multi-talented and wonderful you are. (Trust me you can tell a whole lot from the way a person writes:)) So that's why I say this, hold your chin up high and never ever forget that you are F-A-N-T-A-B-U-L-O-U-S! I know you'll be great where ever you are!!! Loads of good wishes and xoxoxo's coming your way!!!

P.S. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
---
i♥make-up

[Cathy]

hey gigi :) i love how you always look at things -- so very refreshing! enjoy the new environs and keep on writing!

[sistah #1]

sneakers, huh? i suppose you could start color-coordinating them with your work shirts to stay fashionable :)

[defiance]

gd luck :)

changes take time =)

[Stace]

Yes, luv, no matter what: rock those pretty undies! xoxo

[Gigi]

Mell - O sige na ng, "ate" na ako! :) hehe, thanks for the hug -- after these last two days, I sure needed one!

Melvyn - O yeah! Not just "putz" around -- I actually stayed inside one and nearly froze to death yesterday. But can I tell you one thing I love about my job? It makes me appreciate ALL the other people who have it. :)

Iheartmakeup - Love your name! Thank you so much!!!

Cathy - My husband really can't believe that I do what I do now, so he's actually dropped by a couple of times already just to see me in action (doesn't even tell me he's there!).

Sistah#1 - I was thinking of buying a pair of Doc Martens and making them fashionable again. Sneakers aren't sturdy enough and my ankles/soles really hurt right now. What do you think? :)

Defiance - And change is always good! At least I think so. :)

Stace - Oh man. And the more of a boy I look like on the outside, the more I need my La Perlas on the inside. Don't you agree? (PS: you gotta drop by work...remember how I said they grew them tall and strong in OC? Well, now I finally have proof!!!)

[cathy]

g, it seems like what you do has some sort of "routine" -- am I right? i can relate -- a year ago i was doing something very routine,so unlike me, and i stuck with it for a year until i "found" myself :) enjoy this period. it will bring you to where you need to go :)

[Gigi]

Thanks Cathy! One of the things I'm enjoying right now is that things are pretty simple and uncomplicated -- I just do what I need to or what I'm told to do. The weight of the world isn't on my shoulders and when I'm doing something repetitive I'm actually deep in thought.