Wearing Pink

I've never really liked the color pink. As a child, I did go through a purple phase, but eventually settled on blue & yellow. Foreshadowing of my eventual Yellow Jacket allegiance.

But I've never liked red (To Hell With Georgia!) and never, ever liked pink. I'm a tomboy, and pink is girly. Pink is wimpy. Pink is... my favorite crayon... pink when I turn out the lights... pink is... like red but not quite...

So imagine my surprise tonight to find myself wearing pink, proudly, sitting in a room full of girls and actually enjoying myself.

Tonight two friends had a Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation fundraiser: a "Boob-be-que." It was a hoot! Shish-ka-boobs and pink lemonade and a "bra & panty" cake done up in pink frosting. A very funny way to raise money and awareness for a very heartbreaking subject. I bawled like a baby when we watched a video about the 3-Day Walk. One of the women on the video said she was walking in memory of her mother, and I just lost it. But Mom is doing well, and only has 2 chemo sessions left. Praise God!

After the Boob-be-que, I zoomed across town to a bridal shower. My automatic reflex is to say, "ugh." I don't do well in large groups of women, and if there's a baby or an upcoming wedding, forget it. But I'm getting over that, and tonight was sweet. The guest of honor is fun, quirky, very feminine, but also very down-to-earth. I was reflecting as headed home from all this estrogen madness about how I had fun in spite of myself. At both events, I was surrounded by women that I respect and admire. Women who teach, who are going to graduate school & medical school, who are mothers and wives, who work in engineering, who work at home, who are clever and witty, who are loyal and fun. They all have such unique qualities.

I've learned to wear pink because of my sister-in-law. She has taught me so much about listening to others, about caring for others. Seeing her helps to remind me that being quiet doesn't mean being weak. When I think of pink now, I think fondly of the many wonderful women in my life. I think of our friends that are walking the 3-Day this October. Both nurses, who can tell gory stories with the best of 'em at the dinner table. Both beautiful women who love babies, who love girly movies, who love to sing and dance and live boisterous, joyful lives. I think of my South'n belle friends. Strong, stubborn, loyal creatures who won't quit and love art and music and babies as much as they love college football and camping. Pink makes me think of their heritage and their determination. Steel Magnolias, indeed.

So, I wear pink now. How odd. I feel like I'm finally figuring out how to be the woman God designed me to be, and it's not how I ever thought it would look. Who could ever have imagined me wearing pink or loving football? I love GT football, and one of the people that has taught me the most about being a Tech fan is a woman. I admire her very much because of her passion. She is passionate not only about tomboy-ish things, but also about her children, her husband, her home. She is passionate about Jesus. She is passionate about supporting the fight against breast cancer, having walked the 3-Day a couple of years back. How amazing it has been for me to see her example.

It was so great tonight to see a friend that I haven't seen since the birth of her charming little boy. I looked at the new mother, proud and beautiful... and tired. She's a tiny thing, and yet I'm amazed at her stature. She's teaching college courses and taking care of a new baby. Wow. I also was blessed by seeing some other friends tonight that I haven't seen in quite awhile. Mothers, nurses, engineers, businesswomen. Poets, artists, skilled pianists. Women who like "chick flicks" and women who like action movies. Some quiet, some loud, all characters. What an amazing, diverse, multiracial sisterhood I am a part of! What friends God has gifted me with. I think I understand a little better about the appeal of sororities now.

So, although most of my wardrobe remains blue, yellow, and old gold & white, I'd have to say that in some ways, pink is my favorite color.