So Very Uncool

I discovered something that shocked me recently.

I'm not cool.

 I know, you would have never guessed that the kid in the sparkly green and red plaid dress would have grown up to be someone who wasn't cool, but it happened.

You see, I think in my own little universe, I always have considered myself cool. I have awesome friends, I host fun parties that my guests enjoy, I get good grades at school, and my aunt and cousins even ask for my fashion advice upon occasion.

The getting good grades at school part really should have been a tip off, now that I think about it. These days, I know a little better, because now I know that people who pass every test the first time through are not the ones you want to hang out with.

I'm realizing for the first time how very uncool I am in the grand scheme of things. I believe that what has opened my eyes to this fact is my classmates at cosmetology school.

You see, I got married at 19. I thought that was a pretty respectable accomplishment, but apparently, that's just a lifestyle choice that's looked upon with skeptical sideways glances.

I don't have tattoos, largely because I hate the very thought of needles sticking in me, and can't even stay still for a vaccination, let alone unnecessary needle pricking.

I don't wear mascara or straighten my hair, or, in fact, do any other fashionable thing that annoys me. 

I don't smoke, and even the smell of smoke tends to send me into one of my famous coughing fits.

I don't drink, and didn't even try alcohol till after my 21st birthday (you may actually remember that story, it wasn't too long ago).

I don't have a terribly good poker face, and it's very hard to keep the expression of shock off of my face as I listen to classmates' stories about getting alcohol illegally since they aren't old enough to buy it, driving drunk, escaping the cops, good sources of cheap drugs, and which drugs they would and wouldn't want to try again. 

I thought I was cool, because in high school and college I stayed out with my friends till the very last minute before midnight, and regularly made it home seconds before I would have gotten in trouble for breaking curfew. But, now I know that what the cool kids do is get in and out of their house while their parents are still sleeping, and laugh about it the next day in school.

I was thinking about having a party at my house for my class--but now I don't think I'm cool enough. I simply would not allow minors in my home to drink alcohol....and I honestly doubt that my classmates would think a party with just a bonfire, apple cider, hot dogs, and a game of charades would be worth going to.

This is an interesting revelation for me. I know I've been rather sheltered--most of the friend circles I've run in before have considered slipping ice down the back of each others' shirts a mischeivous adventure. However, now I'm finding out that in the world of cool people, mischeivous adventures related in the class the next day are often, I'm quite certain, actually illegal.

Don't worry, I'm not feeling that the peer pressure will cause me to be a different person than I am. I'm just learning, in a way, for the first time, that people who consider sewing, blogging, reading,  and decorating dollhouses to be their favorite hobbies aren't the kind of people are also cool...and I'm okay with that. In all honesty, I was sad on the first day that a few girls in my class decided to go out for lunch together, and went around inviting everyone to go with them, even inviting the teacher, but pointedly excluding me. I know that I could have invited myself along, but I really don't have the desire to be where I'm not wanted. If I can't be cool, I'll be the other things I can be to be a blessing to my classmates--I'll help them find obscure answers for our homework and I'll do my part and beyond when it comes to cleaning the classroom everyday (cutting hair is a messy business, ya'll!)

 Sometimes I do break the law too...with my partner in crime.

Are you cool? Or aren't you? I think people can be interesting either way...though I tend to believe in not breaking the law, at least the vast majority of the time. And driving under the influence is not okay, at all. No matter how many funny stories it might lead to the next day...it just as easily could lead to tragedy.

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In case you missed my announcement a few days ago, I got Twitter over the weekend. I'm still practicing as far as what "retweet," "favorite," and "#" mean. If you have written any posts about how to use Twitter, direct me to them! And if you want to join me, my username is @Randomlyrachels