I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, check my oil, and never let you forget you're a man.
But I'd rather YOU brought home the bacon, I'll fry it up in the pan, you never let me forget I'm a woman, that's just the way I am.
1950's - that's where my values are. I should have been born in the 1930's so I could raise a family in the '50's. I've always only wanted to grow up, get married, raise babies, clean house, iron my man's clothes, be a chef in the kitchen and entertain. Not how life turned out. So I do the best I can with the hand I've been dealt.
But when I see a retro dress like this - I get it and I pretend. This is one of my "power suits" as my mother likes to call the clothes that make you feel good about you. I put it on and I don't feel so frumpy and dumpy. I feel good and I carry myself more confidently. And I feel the way a woman was meant to - classy and feminine.
Raising (3) girls in this age of poor female role models is hard. Class seems non-existent in our culture at times - too much of the time. Girls wear too little clothing with words like "Juicy" across their butts, cleavage hanging out, and expletives flowing out the mouth. With the media throwing the likes of P. Hilton and B. Spears on the front covers of grocery store mags and television sets, it's hard to recall the days of classic women like Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn.
So, every now and then, I try to show my girls the importance of dressing well from time to time.
Even if I still have to check the oil in my car.
30 Responses
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On 18 May 2008 Dave McLean gave props:
Cute.
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On 18 May 2008 J Mac gave props:
I love this so very much,I adore the dress!! Where can I get one? Its funny how life works out,you long to be home,I long to be out working from time to time! Great great job!
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On 18 May 2008 adniloj gave props:
A Girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta due; Nice SP; You look marvalous in that light pinky polka dotted dress! & your task & w/ the potential of getting the oil on you, is so today! June Cleaver would never've done that! What's 1950s about the narrative is that when I'm a 40 yr old woman, my father, at the end of each of our telephone calls will still be saying, "I love you dear, & remember to check the oil in your car!" - this is an x-cellent entry, the perfect challenge we live for the photo challenge; you can check the oil in my tractor anytime and give me a call the next Tupperware party! :D
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On 18 May 2008 Kevin Leger gave props:
Truly wonderful. I'm not sure what I like more the pic or description.
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On 18 May 2008 Simon Le gave props:
Awesome portrait shot Natalie! Great composition, contrast & lighting.
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On 18 May 2008 Kate Hamlin said:
Alright sister, you look absolutely adorable in this photo. And I love the essay on it!
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On 18 May 2008 Glenn Buzbee said:
Ok Natalie, you are a renaissance woman -- multi talented and lovely. Plus you can change oil. Not bad. Hahaha! But seriously, as a parent, I totally see what you are saying. My two girls and our son are all in their mid 20s now, and are past a lot of the middleschool and highschool stuff. But it took its toll, no matter how hard their mom and I tried to offer them a different set of values. It's a tough job to get past the peer pressure they run into at school. If we had it to do all over again, I think we'd seriously consider home-schooling. That would have taken a toll on the family income, and we wouldn't have had a lot of cash to get the latest clothes and fad stuff. But I think there would have been a whole lot of other benefits that would have far outweighed the "things" of the world.
You've done a nice family series. And I like your essay here a lot. Good for you, Natalie. -
On 18 May 2008 Jason Platt gave props:
Great shot and story!
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On 18 May 2008 Jean Pierre Vacherot gave props:
Nice dress for a mechanic
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On 18 May 2008 Sock Monkey gave props:
ha, ha funny Jean Pierre; Natalie, you look RAD even changing your oil!
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On 18 May 2008 hr chick said:
I love this!! Talk about contrasts! Makes me smile just looking at it! Beautiful!
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On 18 May 2008 Natalie S said:
You guys are all so awesome. Thank you so very much for commenting. You ALL put a broad smile on my face. Except Jean Pierre - I couldn't stop laughing. :)
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On 18 May 2008 *hector* Ortiz gave props:
sorry, i missed this one....
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On 19 May 2008 Michelle Lane gave props:
Totally cute! I agree, I sometimes wish I could have raised my kids in the 50s...back when life was simplier and dad's could bring home enough bacon on his own for mom to cook! Times have definitely changed. I have three girls, so I understand exactly what you are saying here. Kudos for teaching your girls how to be ladies (and how to change the oil!)
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On 19 May 2008 Jayel said:
Beautiful pict & what you wrote up there! Some will have different values, but what matters is a belief system and consistency, though not rigidity... 'N humility to recognize when they 'grew' 'n must be gently nudged to let go...
I happen to agree with your belief system, but don't disagree with those who have a different take on oil than we do... -
On 19 May 2008 Photography Seven said:
pimk goes well
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On 19 May 2008 Mark Gilliland gave props:
Great shot!
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On 19 May 2008 geomar gave props:
Very clean mecanical.......!!!!!_____(:>
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On 20 May 2008 Yasmina Baggili gave props:
I just love this shot. Wonderful job. And your outfit looks great too.
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On 20 May 2008 Catherine Kurvink gave props:
You look so extremely cute here, Natalie! Great shot :-)
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On 21 May 2008 Natalie S said:
Thank you guys so much for all of your comments! :)
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On 24 May 2008 * Jeff Boucher said:
Perfect for the theme. Very 50's pin-up-ish (my own new word).
My first thought was a AM transistor playing, a towel connected to a doorknob and girtls practicing shag dancing, with a lot of giggling and screaming when the next tune came on.
Very cool shot, well thought out, and a great story to match. -
On 7 June 2008 Nelson Campbell gave props:
This rocks around the clock!!
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On 22 June 2008 Frederic Frognier gave props:
That's a fun & fresh shot
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On 10 July 2008 ! Sharon Bialy Fox said:
Nice SP. Love the contrast....modern woman with a touch of old fashioned class.
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On 15 July 2008 Jose Rico gave props:
wonderful story and portrait! dig those polka dots! great colors
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On 15 July 2008 John Linton gave props:
I think we have a winner here.
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On 9 August 2008 Ikhlef A. said:
The story makes the woman or does it really?
Cool and sincere. That's how we've got to be.
Thanks Natalie for sharing. -
On 13 September 2008 Rob Roy gave props:
Absolutely MARVELOUS text! The latter is so appropriate for the photo. Judging by strong positive reaction to Sarah Palin's candidacy, I'd say you're not alone! So nice to "hear" from you in both text AND photo that you share these disappearing values!! If you ever run for public office, Natalie, I'll lend a hand in MA.
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On 25 September 2008 Vidyavati Chandan gave props:
Didn't see this earlier...nice to meet you Joy :-)
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