Old Girl Fan Girl – A Great Time to be Alive

I had to do it. It’s juvenile and reeks of fan girl, but I did it anyway. My first pair of Converse sneakers. Grey, of course, befitting my advanced age and where a lot of my advocacy lies right now.

It’s saying something about presidential candidate Kamala Harris that she can inspire an old woman who usually wears Nikes because they’re such solid walking shoes to invest in a pair of Converse sneakers and also get her pearls out of the good jewelry box tucked in a secret place and wear a lot, a lot of blue. Next, I’ll be dancing in public.

The other day at an event, I showed up in a white t and a blue jacket, pearl earrings and a pearl pin. I sat next to a pastor wearing a long dress with Converse sneakers. Next to me was a woman in an entirely white suit with a pearl necklace. Three other women sitting next to me wore blue. We were somehow code-wearing. I loved it.

The event I attended was a ‘fireside chat’ with the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield. I love going to things like this where my principal job is to sit in the front row and represent old people. I’m big on showing up because I think if you don’t show up, people forget you exist. And then, God only knows what can happen.

The Ambassador was impressive, substantial in every way, probably a few years younger than me but not many. She was tall and regal and, I could tell from listening to her for just a while, knew ten million more things about the world than I ever would. I thought, I am so lucky to be here. And then I thought, I love women so much.

So, my thoughts are jumbled. All over the place. Excited about my new shoes. Astonished that I bought them. Old girl wants to be hip. Kamala made that happen. What else is in store? I can’t wait to see.