It's With It...I think

Steve has been wanting to learn to play the guitar for a few months now. At the beginning of December, his dad brought him his brothers old guitar that had been in storage for years. Steve's brother, Chuck, passed away in a bicycle accident about 20 years ago, so not only is the guitar old, it is very sentimental.

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Steve is a VERY hard person to buy gifts for. Anytime we have a society-says-we-must-exchange-gifts day, I panic because I don't know what I am going to get for him - until our anniversary last week. He has had the guitar in the hallway for a month and a half waiting to be taken care of. He has wanted to take it in to get serviced and re-strung, but has not had the time due to his new job at the hospital. I decided that I would do it for him as a surprise. I was so excited to actually have a gift that I knew he wanted.

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Friday morning I made a couple of phone calls and found a guitar shop where I could get new strings. Someone would also check it out and string it for me. Thomas was thrilled because he was going to bring his guitar and get new strings for it. Perfect! An activity, and an errand all rolled into one!

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We got to the guitar shop and walked in. I was carrying the old case in one hand, diaper bag slung over the shoulder, and Clara was sitting on my hip. I was wearing my trusty jeans that are kind of like cool jeans, but not really because they don't show my crack when I sit down (from what I see, that is the style). I had on a nice cardigan sweater and ballet flats. I looked perfect for Gymboree or a fun enrichment night. I even put on some of my Brighton jewelry to look like I was pulled together. Thomas walked beside me carrying his guitar in the travel case on his back. As soon as I walked in the door, I knew I had overdressed. A lot.

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The first person to greet us was a super skinny girl that needed a sandwich really bad. She took my name and then took my case, because I guess I looked like I was going to run in and steal a bunch of guitar picks. She pointed me over to the counter and told me that someone would be there to help me.

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As I walked into the main part of the store, I knew I was out of my element. I did not fit in. Everyone there was in black and had piercings everywhere. They were the kind of piercings where you stare and questions start flooding your mind. How do they possibly eat or blow their nose, or use a q-tip? I found it took me a minute to focus my attention because I was wincing at the thought of the pain they must have endured to look so cool.

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I was pleasantly surprised by how nice and accommodating the girl that helped me was. The piercings and black were all a facade. I purchased the strings for the old guitar, some strings for Thomas' guitar, some picks, and a little tuner for Steve. While she was fixing it, Thomas and I were making small talk with her.

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Me: So, do you play?

Her: Yes

Me: Do you play the Electric Guitar?

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My Thoughts: Oh my gosh, I just said electric guitar...that is so 80's, not to mention stereotypical! Fix it...fix it...

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Me: I guess I should say bass?

Her: I play both.

Me: I guess it's not hip to say Electric Guitar.

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My Thoughts: DID I JUST SAY HIP? I am such a loser.

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She glances up from the guitar

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Me: I guess hip isn't the thing to say either.

Her: Yeah, it's with it now.

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I am pretty sure that is what she said. The laughter in my head was drowning out what she was saying.

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By this point she had finished the guitar and was handing it back to me. I thanked her, gave her a tip, grabbed the kids and ran as fast as I could after grabbing the case at the check in counter. I felt so ridiculous! It's not like I wanted to be cool enough to hang with these kids, but at least cool enough not to stick out like a sore thumb, let alone say phrases that weren't even cool when I was in school.

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As I was strapping both kids in the car seat, in the mini van no less, she and her friend came walking out of the store laughing. In my mind, she was replaying the conversation she had just had with the lady in the mom-sweater to her friend. I had so many emotions. I was laughing at myself because of the conversation and the realization that I am not cool. I was also relieved because I don't have to worry about living the life of a teenager / young adult and having that constant fear of not being accepted.

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Steve was very happy and surprised with the gift, which made the whole experience worth the embarrassment. However, he wants to exchange the tuner for a digital one. I told him there was no way I was stepping foot back into that store. I would take the $10.00 loss rather than putting my self in a situation to make me look even more un-hip, or I guess I should say with-out-it?