I've Heard American Eagle Has These Effects On People
Current Song: Fiona Apple - On The BoundCurrent Mood: My eyes sting, but I don't think that's a mood.
Since I've been back in Pittsburgh for the summer, my mom and I have been hanging out quite a bit. She's really a cool person and I've missed being able to do things with her whenever I want. And because she hasn't bought herself any clothes in a very, very long time, we decided it was time for her to go shopping.
Don't misunderstand: I'm not one of those people who lives to go shopping. The majority of my clothes are from thrift stores or the clearance rack at Old Navy. But it's fun to go out with my mom and watch her try on different things and put together little outfits for her to wear. I'm tired of seeing her wear the same t-shirts and the same denim skirt with the bleach stains. My mother should have nice clothes.
So we went to Banana Republic the first day and really had a lot of fun. We decided to go back another day and wander around the mall together and talk about girlie things and all that jazz. This was also the day I called my old Old Navy store and asked for my job back. They gave it to me, so I was psyched. I bought $30 worth of Mango-Mandarin-smelling products at Bath & Body Works.
Then we went to American Eagle, which is a store I generally don't like. I don't believe in buying fake hippie clothes and paying more than any self-respecting TRUE hippie would ever spend on clothing that is made in Taiwan. But my mother likes it, so we went in, and I saw The Dress.
The Dress was a very very casual white eyelet halter dress with shaggy ruffles at the bottom. More importantly, The Dress was the answer to all my irritation at buying a wedding dress. I don't believe in poofy, either. I don't think I need to believe in poofy to get married. So I was all ready to buy The Dress right then and there and take it home. My mother wisely suggested that I try it on.
As it turns out, I looked terrible. The dress stuck to my hips but not to my waist, made my boobs look more pathetic than they really are, and barely covered my ass. I felt like I was trying on a sexy-nurse costume IN FRONT OF MY MOTHER. So I took it off and started grumbling about wanting the wedding-dress-buying to be OVER, and my mom tried to console me by telling me about all the other places that were sure to have a better dress and we would just go to all those places until we found one.
This didn't console me. The idea of driving all over Pittsburgh to find the perfect dress just depressed me. So while my mother tried on the rest of her clothes, I started talking to myself about how I hate planning and I hate big affairs and I hate weddings and I just wanted to do it and be done with it and be married; and wasn't that the important part anyway?
And my mom, bless her heart, looked at me, tilted her head and said "Well, so why don't you do it this summer instead of next?"
And I had no idea.
So right there, in the American Eagle dressing room, we sketched out a little plan for doing this crazy-ass thing, this thing that is going to make people think I'm pregnant or at the very least insane out of my gourd. And I'm so excited, because this means there will be no more planning than is necessary to see that Joe and I get married. Which, in my opinion, is way more important than florists and photographers and fucking WEDDING FAVORS.
And for the first time, I'm actually excited about the planning. I think it must be because there will be so little of it.
We're finally getting married!
