Image from Google.
First off, I want to thank ya’ll for all the sweet comments yesterday. Your support calmed the nervous butterflies in my stomach and made me feel like I’m on the right path. And like my idol Elle says, you’ve got to have faith in yourself.
Today, I thought I’d share an essay I wrote after a dinner party the other day. As an writer/ artist living in San Antonio, it’s really easy to feel out of place. Most people work for a few major companies in town and fall into two groups: business or higher education. I’m not small business, I’m not big business and I don’t have a masters. I just paint pictures, like my newest one above, and write stories. (To make you smile, of course)
And now, without further ado….The Other Side
Photo from Google
I was born into privilege and wealth, but grew up in a 1600 square foot house with a boat from the 1970s in the backyard, much to the neighbor’s chargarin.
I went to a exclusive private school littered with pre-law trust fund babies but married a man who drove a pickup truck and faded blue jeans because I was curious about the mind behind that glittering smile.
I wear heels and dresses to events with tiny plates of food that costs more than my weekly groceries but love a good greasy burger made by a man named Mel with an eighth grade education.
I grew up in the liberal artist haven of Texas, Austin, but longed for the conservative prestige of Dallas or Fort Worth.
At Baylor, I took classes in buildings with marble floors just to escape afterwards to a ranch where I could ride across fields of muddy grass.
I married a man who wears suits and has a corporate job with the security that comes with it but itch to travel the world.
I fell in love with a man who is logical, determined and fair when I am a dreamer who creates to escape the cold, mundane of the world.
I dine with foodies but sometimes crave the simplicity of my mother-in-law’s kitchen.
And the other night, at a dinner party, I looked at the collection of people—many who had their masters, a few that had their doctorates. They all had corporate jobs or private practices, wore elegant designer labels and drove sleek sports cars. Then I looked down at my fingers stained with paint from art class, the faded ink on my thigh from a reminder I scribbled while driving. I stirred my homemade potato salad, chock full of passé mayoniase, next to the sautéed steaks and asparagus she’d served with a salad of finely chopped cucumbers and avocado over lettuce with a squeeze of lime juice and bleu cheese.
I am neither rich, nor am I poor. I’m not Chanel and I’m not K-Mart.
I’m just in-between.
I’m on the other side.
I’d love to hear what ya’ll want to hear from me in this space! I’m planning on joining Mama Kat’s–any other writing groups I should join? I also want to interview creative women, post art tutorials on painting….and several cute pictures of puppies, of course. We all need more pictures of puppies.
What would you want to see from Words n’ Whimsy? Have you ever felt like you don’t quite fit in?
Don’t forget to visit The Pond!
Thanks,it’s genuinely interesting post. And maybe it isn’t quite in the topic, but I want to ask you for advice. Maybe somebody know sites with quality free web design templates?
wow.. love your new blog! love the way you introduced it.. “grown up blog”
This new blog is so pretty! Love it.
And yes, sometimes I feel like I don’t fit in. I’m 30 but I don’t always feel or act it.
Great post. Love your artwork. You are such a talented woman!
This is great, quite different from the writings on your other blog. Very good!!
I loved your essay, and being on the other side. I love the benefits of being on the other side, really. I love looking in on those who are considered “privileged” and seeing that it’s not that great. We’re the privileged ones, Miranda, because we do what we love.
We looked into buying properties in Austin once. The realtor was a hoot. We looked into Houston, too. It’s as big as some northeastern states! I’m sure you fit in wonderfully wherever you are.
Congrats on the new blog! This is a really interesting piece. I bet you could explore this topic even further….
This is nice. I sometimes feel the same. I don’t quite fit in and I sometimes think I should put more effort into the way I present myself. But there is this saying (actually it’s a song lyric) I love which is “I am not my hair”. I don’t want people to like me for my pretty hair or for what I wear, I want them to like me for who I am.
http://myfroley.blogspot.com
Hi there, Miranda!
As I read through your post, I was thinking that there are probably a lot of people who, on the surface, appear to be one thing or another, but under that surface they feel like they are not that world. Sometimes the world of small plates and caviar feels a bit contrived, even to those who do it all the time. It sounds like you are making it part of your “thing” in life to buck the trend. I think that is great. It is my wish that there are less labels for people and more just appreciating the uniqueness that is each one of us!
I put a link above to a blog post I did about artists. You might want to look at it. I appreciate your stopping by my blog. It was fun meeting you, Blond Duck!
I have felt out of place almost my whole life. I’ve always been a little offbeat I suppose. When I was a kid, I much preferred to hang out with adults as opposed to kids. Or a book. This is a great essay!
Joining you from over at the Duck Pond, well done on your new place.
Look at your new house I love it. It’s almost like your summer house or maybe it just feels that way. Great job.
Congrats on the new blog and great post! Many of us are on the other side neither extreme (or I am extreme in a certain areas only!)
xoxo,
Chic ‘n Cheap Living
great post, I LOVE Elle Woods, that is a great movie, never judge a book by its cover.
I guess I’m on the other side too, I like NOT being defined by standards, you are just who you are. Each day is a different journey.
I love your new website, it is adorable! You are very fortunate to have grown up the way you did. I was the poor kid and sometimes the charity kid, but always and forever the bullied kid…I wish I could relate to your blessings, but alas, my blessings are very different.
I wish you the best on your new blog.
Miranda, this is my favorite post that you’re written. So glad you started another more personal blog. Would love to hear more about exactly the dichotomies that you talk about here, that always interests me. And of course, good book recommendations too. Hope you’re having a great wednesday!
xo Mary Jo
Very good written post. It will be helpful to anybody who usess it, as well as myself. Keep up the good work – looking forward to more posts.
I like to think I’m on the other side as well. I love living in the suburbs of Fort Worth/Dallas. I like to keep myself on the outskirts…there’s too much pressure in the middle.
I would love to meet you at Bloggy Bootcamp in Dallas!!
PS…check out the Facebook Group: GBE2
I haven’t written in awhile, but the leader, Beth, posts a weekly “topic” and if you feel inspired to write, then you link up your posts.
Love your new sit duckie:)!
I think landing right in the middle of the two worlds is perfect!
I love getting to know you better! So weird ’cause just today I was thinking about how I’ve never fit in. I was a bookworm and a dreamer from a young age. I used to pretend I was characters from my books and take on their emotions and everything. My family still tells me to this day what a weird kid I was. I think I should of been an actress.
Miranda, I mean Duckie, um how should I address you?
Anyway, you’re doing great and would love to read more of your written fiction 
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