Fitting In


Fitting in...
Remember Twiggy? From the 60s? What were we thinking? It's curious what we find attractive at the time, and what we will wear to be in style.
Fitting in reminds me of Sheryl's venture to Japan.
Sheryl enrolled in a student foreign exchange program that led her to a family in Japan. When she arrived, her host family threw a dinner party to welcome Sheryl and introduce her to her new friends and family.
Everything on the tabled looks exotic, and Sheryl is hesitant to try much of what is served. Each small taste that she samples brings encouragement and applause. Emboldened, Sheryl bravely starts sampling everything on the table. Enjoying the warm reception, she reaches for the most unusual dish and pops a bite into her mouth, only to hear a reaction from her host mom.
"Sheriru, you eat 'centapiece'."
"Centapiece?"
"Yes, centapiece." Host mom points to the center of the table.
"Centerpiece?"
"Yes!"
To fit in and please her new family and friends, Sheryl mistakenly ate the centerpiece. Well, according to Sheryl, it tasted as good as anything else she tried. Admittedly, not the best form of fitting in.
I look at attire from the 60s and think it makes as much sense as eating the centerpiece.
If I were young enough would I wear jeans with holes in them that look like they're one thread removed from falling apart? Probably.
Sometimes fitting in is innocent and fun, like wearing white go-go boots. I still regret that I never owned a pair in the third grade. But, that's where I draw the line.
~ LowTide explorer, Carolyn Fjeran


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