"You're Going to Need to Be Quiet."

Friday, May 29, 2009
7:56 pm Oh no, she didn't...

My name is Tara, and I am a victim of ageism. Now, I understand that the term "ageism" is usually used to refer to discriminatory practices against the elderly, but in this case I'm using it to describe discriminatory practices against the young and the beautiful - namely, me.

Today, I took Kaitlyn to get her eyebrows waxed before tomorrow's Senior Ball. Since I've been home, Mom has designated me Kaitlyn's personal assistant/chauffeur, and I take my duties very seriously, when I'm not complaining about them. My chauffeuring duties mostly include escorting Kaitlyn to and from school, the Academy, and her various other rehearsals/appointments. As her personal assistant, my most recent duty was to schedule Kaitlyn a brow waxing appointment at one of the spas in Glastonbury. Usually, we go to Elizabeth Grady (they know us there), but they're out of business until June, when they're reopening under new management. Confusing, I know.

So, I spent hours scouring the Internet for a new spa that would be to Kaitlyn's liking. Finally, I settled on one. If you really want to know which spa, I'll tell you, but I'm going to write some not-very-nice things about them because they did a terrible job. Email me for details.

Anyway, where was I? Aaah, yes, ageism and brow waxing. So, I bring Kaitlyn in for her 1:15 pm appointment, and it's your typical spa - fake candles glowing in corners, Enya wailing in the background. While we're in the waiting area trying not to choke on incense, I ask Kaitlyn if she wants me to go into the room with her while they do the waxing. Typically, she likes me to go in there with her because I'll tell them if they need to fix something, whereas she would sit and smile politely while they waxed off an entire eyebrow. She says yes.

Waxer lady comes out and greets Kaitlyn with a flowy wave of her hand. We stand up to follow her into the room, and as we're walking I ask, "Is it alright if I go in with her?"

Waxer lady turns, looks at me, and says, "Yes. But you're going to need to be quiet."

EXCUSE ME??? Did you seriously just tell me to be quiet? Bitch, please.

This bothers me for two reasons:

1.) If I were Kaitlyn's mother, she would never in a million years have told me to be quiet. She only said that because I'm 22 (and look 18).

2.) Secondly, I'M PAYING YOU. Want to know why you got like, no tip? BECAUSE YOU TOLD A CUSTOMER TO BE QUIET. I'm sorry I missed the "Whisper Zone" plaque on the wall, but I was asking you a question. I didn't jump up and down and bang on the walls and yell and scream. I WAS TRYING TO BE POLITE BY ASKING YOU IF I COULD COME IN, AS IF IT WERE REALLY UP TO YOU.

So, Kaitlyn went on with her brow waxing, and I stood (quietly) in the corner of the room. When she was done, Kaitlyn held up the mirror to look at herself, and then looked at me for my approval.

I came over, examined them, and told the waxer lady that she needed to go back and trim them.

And I didn't say it quietly.

Love,
Tara

Listening to: "It's the End of the World As We Know It" by R.E.M.

"Starting Now."

Wednesday, May 27, 2009
5:28 pm I'm BACK.

I’m starting now.

The title of my new blog, and this new chapter of my life, was inspired by an Ingrid Michaelson song. Ally played it on the way home from The Farm this past Sunday, and as I listened, I couldn’t help but think that our ‘real lives’were starting now. I started thinking about what that meant.

There are so many things in my life that I put off. As a writer, I’m a procrastinator by nature. And that tends to work for me in my writing (I wrote the COM commencement speech the night before it was due), but it’s not good when I’m putting off things in my life. Whether it’s little (“Starting next week I’m going to go to the gym EVERY DAY!”) or big (“Once I have a job I’ll start feeling good about myself again.”), I do it. I don’t know why I always wait to make things better.

So, starting now, I’m not going to wait. Starting now, when I want to make a change, I’m just going to do it. Last night, my parents convinced me the to-do list I had created for myself was making me crazy, so I got rid of it. And I can’t remember the last time I slept so well.

I think the idea of “starting now” goes hand in hand with demanding more from the universe. You can’t wait for things to get better. You have to go out and make them better. It’s all very “Live the life you have imagined” and whatnot…

Whenever I think of “starting now,” I picture a group of kids I used to babysit for. I would always try to trick them into playing “The Quiet Game,” the object of which is to see who can stay quiet the longest.

“This is going to be so much fun! Are you guys ready?” I’d say in a fake, overly excited voice.

The kids’ eyes would get really wide, and they’d start to squirm around, hardly able to contain themselves.

“Ooookay! Everybody be quiet! Startiiiiiiiiiiing…”

(I’d draw it out just to add to the excitement.)

“NOW.”

And everyone would burst out laughing.

Love,
Tara

Listening to: "Starting Now" by Ingrid Michaelson