Fluff and Granola

Years ago one of my sisters labelled me as a "fluff and granola" type of woman.  She didn't mean it in a bad way, she was comparing me to some other women who revel in their helpless demeanor and are more concerned with the condition of their manicures than the condition of our country.  For myself, my nails are neat but natural.  I feel that there is so much more to do in life than waste time in a salon chair.

Most of my time is spent with a group of women who are focused on something other than the beauty rituals. Yesterday, for instance, my friend and I met at a farmers market. We discussed gardening with the vendors, taste tested the honey, bought some seeds  for our gardens, and  her M and M jacket caught the attention of almost everyone.  Afterward we went to breakfast and discussed the graduation party she is planning after the New Year to celebrate the completion of  her PHD. Our conversations covered many topics but beauty procedures never came up.  It was a truly enjoyable morning.

Later I met another friend for dinner and a wine tasting.  The discussion encompassed wine, cheese, food, and events in our personal lives.  Discussions over the latest movie star drama or fashion crazes did not enter the conversations all evening.

My friend and I bought raffle tickets for a drawing. As we were looking at the potential prizes lined up on a long table my friend sighs as she sees a beautiful handmade candelabra with candles.  She says "That is so beautiful but I already have so many candles."  I laugh and say "One can never have too many candles."  As I said this I hear the man next to me chuckle.  I looked at him so he shrugged and said "Now that is something only a woman would say."   I laughed and said "Oh, but it is true!  I could take offense to that comment but since you have a NY Giants Jacket on, I guess I'll let that comment slide."  He said he was surprised that I was a Giants fan so I told him "Yes I am a Giants fan who happens to like scented candles.... and a good bottle of wine of course."  My friend is a Cardinals fan so within minutes we found ourselves enjoying a lively discussion with him and his friends on football, the basketball strike, scented candles, martinis, wines and  local restaurants.  As we prepared to leave he said " You surprise me because you initially gave a different impression... I thought you would be all about the girl stuff... which is OK... but you aren't ...uh...which is great!" Then he just shugs and says : I mean that as a compliment by the way."  I just smiled and said "Thank you." It was a sincere statement and the nicest compliment that I have had in a while.

So I have to ask myself, does this mean I have grown out of my fluff and granola label?  Of course it is possible that I have simply evolved into the fluff and granola woman who enjoys her granola but also enjoys a good wine,  a scented candle, and nicely manicured nails.