Not the “IN” Crowd 💛👏🏻👍

Yes, I know. I mention this quite often but a few specifics came to mind here lately. I’m not with the “IN” crowd and Warrior wasn’t either. Sure, OK~ sometimes we want to fit in to be accepted as all of us do but for the most part, nope. I honestly don’t rebel out of spite as it’s just me being me as Warrior was himself too. I’ll list a few little examples I thought and then move onto the bigger ideas. Some of these can be more fads and trends but a few wane as several may remain always.

Since the yardwork season is mostly over here, I’ll share our landscaping groundwork. We have several planters and used to mulch like most. Boy, is that exhausting and doesn’t need to be done every year like many think. Talk about a backbreaker move! I decided we should get rocks instead of mulch as it will look nicer than dirt around the flowers and plants. This was years ago… Just one trip, and never again. Such a great idea that nobody else was doing, right? Sounds like somebody I know…. ☺️ Well, the rocks settle and there are still weeds but it looks good. The problem is if you ever want to add or remove something. Yeah, that’s happened and it’s a pain in the A**! We didn’t want to be like the neighbors struggling with bags of mulch when rocks are just a one time deal. We’ll let the next owners decide but that is a constant with me being not of the “IN” crowd.

The next little example is Christmas decor. Years back, it was wreaths in every window of houses I’d see. Again, that looks nice and many did it but not for us. First off, our house windows aren’t shaped like that box where you see them all so perfectly. Second, do any of you by now think I would do that just to be part of a crowd? No, but if I wanted to~ sure. Another holiday outdoor decoration I don’t see any more are those spotlights. Does anyone remember those? My brother-in-law had one lined up in his driveway to shine on their garage. It comes with a whole set for many holidays to project images. Our garage is in the back so not visible from the street. I did like seeing them but very few use them year-round, except for those last remaining holidays of the year. It’s kind of a waste if you ask me considering all the slides you get when you use only a few. I’m NOT “slamming” any of these “IN” crowd ideas at all, if you choose to do them. I’m just stating how they aren’t for me and if they were, I would put them out because I like it and not to fit in. As always warriors, your choice.

The last little thing is funny. I added it to make a 3 count— of course. My regular hairstylist broke her arm and won’t be back for a while, poor thing. This new girl was real nice but doesn’t know my hair. After a bit, she says: ” you have 80‘s hair!” 🫢😉 I loved that complement. No, it isn’t styled that way but just the thickness and volume of it. It’s just mine, not the “IN” crowd of yesteryear. It could’ve been a fad or trend then and I KNOW in high school, it was even bigger. My hair just does what it wants no matter what length I get it. That one made me smile as it frustrates me at times but when you were a bald baby, you’d love that hair now!!! That was a post waaaay back when I started this blog.

This takes us to a little more serious way with the “IN”crowd. Most may know Warrior wanted his own locker room back in his WWF days and that caused friction among the guys. My husband wrestled and played football in high school like I’ve mentioned. Those boys always showered afterwards. He STILL cannot believe the current boys do not until they get home. A bunch of sweaty highschoolers on a long possible bus ride home from away games? It takes some bus driver to handle that! Maybe there are other issues now not faced back then~ I don’t know.

For me, I went to an all girls high school. We’d have to change for gym class but could wear our shorts under the uniform skirt. The blouse had to be changed into our gym shirt. I don’t believe not once did I change in front of the other girls. Even though it would take a few seconds, into the bathroom I went. I was introverted like Warrior but I would never intentionally look at another, ever. It was just my choice and not sure if others followed me in there. I wasn’t doing the “IN” crowd thing like the guys of locker rooms and I was fine with it. Did Warrior have other reasons? It’s not for me to say but he made his choices too. He decided not to stay in the same hotel as the guys for his HOF weekend also. If I hadn’t been there in 18 years, I’d stay somewhere else too. I’m glad he did it his way, but let’s not dwell on that too long…

Are you of the “IN” crowd? Never? Sometimes? We all fall into these categories depending on situations presented to us. If you do follow, do it because you want to even though we still like to fit in. Fads and trends come and go but it’s always up to you. I sometimes am a little curious but KNOW when to be my OWN self. You might be a trendsetter with the “IN” crowd or a trend follower. Maybe you’re in the middle. Wherever you are, just be comfortable with whatever crowd is right. It will feel right. You will know. Try anything, it’s all OK. If the”IN” crowd is your thing, go for it but if not~ no biggie. Just be happy being YOU. That’s the “IN” thing to do.

P.S. Another one I thought of was those back to school papers kids hold. They flood social media as it’s that time of year. Parents print out a paper that says something like this: ” I am in ( fill in the blank) grade.” Nope, don’t do those either. Never have. My kids stopped being posers years ago. I don’t force them. We can make other memories in different ways. 🍎📚📝