Going Native

“Going native” is a term anthropologists use when, while studying a group or culture, they end up becoming assimilated into the group itself.  They’re no longer outsiders, but truly become “one of them” with the group they’re studying.

I think I might be going native.

I wish I had before and after pictures of my trip to Key Biscayne.  When I arrived at my grandma’s house almost a week ago, I was wearing jeans, a sweatshirt, sneakers, and very little make-up.  My hair was in a ponytail.  That night when I got ready for bed, I wore leggings and a tank top.  Pretty standard Michigan attire, right?

Well.  This morning I woke up wearing a long silky nightgown (because why would I wear a T-SHIRT to bed??  How terribly boring).  I went into my bathroom and changed into a flirty, sparkling pink sundress.  It is pale pink and sparkles wherever the light hits it.  It doesn’t have sequins on it or anything (because that would be terribly gauche, which is a new word I learned and now use a lot), but it has almost microscopic glitter pieces that basically make me look like a movie star.  I slipped on my strappy nude high-heeled sandals, and I smiled at the fact that my pearlescent pink toenails matched my dress perfectly.  I used my French-manicured fingers to apply a full face of makeup and sweep my hair into a horizontal French twist.  Nana taught me this hairdo, and it looks awesome.  Finally, I smiled at myself in the mirror, and I decided I was ready for breakfast.

FOR BREAKFAST.

We weren’t even going out.  I was eating breakfast with my grandma in the dining room off of her kitchen, and I was dressed for an A-list cocktail party.  Oh well.  Such is life here.  When I came out to breakfast, Nana smiled her approval and told me I looked great.  Yay!  We ended up spending the day at a botanical garden and then going to a bookstore.  At one point, Nana said, “It’s appalling how people don’t take the time to look nice when they go out anymore.”  I nodded my approval while daintily enjoying an expensive chocolate mousse with Fiji water (I PAID for water, people.  I’ve got it bad).  We also valet parked at a Barnes and Noble.  Why would I want to find a parking space and then walk all the way to a store?  That’s ridiculous!  Oh boy.  I think I'm getting a bit spoiled.

Stop judging me.  It wouldn’t take you long to go native here either.  It’s like you magically get everything you want, sometimes even before you know you want it.  I know that life isn’t always rainbows and butterflies, but today literally was.  I saw hundreds of butterflies at the gardens, and then while swimming in the ocean I saw a vibrant rainbow arch across the sky.  It was amazing.

I’ll be honest; I’m not really ready to go home.  At home, I have to actually cook my own food.  I don’t valet park.  If I wore today’s outfit to Barnes and Noble, people would ask me why I’m so dressed up.  I like living like a princess!  Is that so bad!?

Alas, the carriage always turns back into a pumpkin.  Magic doesn’t last forever.  I should just be thankful that I have an honest-to-goodness prince charming at home, and he’s never turned into a frog.  If I get to keep one piece of magic, I guess I’ll pick that one.  I’ll leave the rainbows and butterflies here for now, but I hope I’m going to come back again soon!