Star Spangled Girl

It’s been a tough week for the country.  The Boston bombing is a vivid reminder that when terrorists wish to infect your life with their sinister brand of hatred and fear they can do it easily enough.  Ricin-laced mail for the Odd Couple targets of a Democratic President and Tea Party Mississippian  – even if a faux threat – underscores the low thrum of unease lurking in the aftermath of  Boston.  Add to this week's toxic stew a little fertilizer, a big explosion and a decimated town in West Texas; the slavish devotion of 46 Senators to the United States of NRA;  and gloom and doom on Wall Street after the YTD reassuring rally -- all enough to make you think that, darn it, life is getting scarily unpredictable again (even if it really has been all along).

 

This bad karma led me to a momentous 6am decision:  Time to pull out the sparkly, powder blue sweater set for today's work ensemble.  Tiny round, silvery blue sprinkles  on soft, inexpensive cashmire from Talbot's -- the perfect thing for a bus ride to the Atlantic City casinos if I was retired, desperate, or had the inclination.  Ok, on me it's a bit matronly, but that makes it age-appropriate.  I was alluring enough, however, for the security guard at his marble desk in the marble atrium of my company’s office building to smile and wink his approval when I twirled through the revolving door this morning in all my gleaming glory.   

Yup, I needed a little bit of glitter to dispel the gloom of the last few days.  A small gesture of defiance.

 

So, for today, I am a star spangled girl in my twinkly twin set wearing my own little flag-wave and affirmation that tough times pass, bad guys get caught and punished, and the powerful forces of reason and love usually, ultimately prevail.