kudos to the lowe's guy

Okay, I had to think about this a little bit. This morning, after I dropped my daughter at middle school at 7:38 a.m., I decided to knock some things off my to do list straight away. There aren't a lot of stores open at 8 a.m., so I decided to head to Lowe's to get some work items done -- clearing my day for more much needed me time (I actually kind of cringe at that term because I wasn't at all raised to indulge in this crazy kind of thinking). Per usual of Michigan gray winter daze (days) with no sunshine to motivate you to really do anything other than trudge on, I put on a cozy pair of fleece lined pants that reminded me of a cute JCrew pair I threw away from college that had an adorable periwinkle fuzzy liner. These were Carhartt but they fit the cozy factor so it was all good.

In my not at all intentional outfit, I trudge into Lowe's, heading to the aisle with kitchen and bathroom faucets. I was inspecting a few different types, debating in my head whether to go shiny fun chrome for a more modern splashy look or stick with a sleek, minimalist brushed satin when a fellow comes up to me saying, "You look like you know what you're doing . . . would you happen to know if this faucet requires such and such something or other?" (paraphrasing). I stare blankly back at him and admit that I have no clue. He thanks me and I ask him before he disappears down the aisle what made him think that I knew what I was doing. Then I added, "Is it the Carhartt pants,?" to which he responded, "Maybe, yeah."

Huh.

I cackled, literally, full on cackled inside and texted my friend that I have a design business with, "Oh my God, you need to call me ASAP." I waited until I was out of earshot of the guy who was beseeching plumbing assistance down a different aisle (moving on to fabricated metal sheets where I knew he probably wouldn't wander) and told my friend the story. I had transformed myself into Schneider, the super in the old seventies tv show One Day at a Time.

I wasn't going for that -- as much as I totally appreciate the fact that the guy asked me -- a girl -- for direction in Lowe's -- I started to assess my own situation. I love that I am becoming learned in so many things house -- but I still want to be the feminine me and for a second I felt very much abandoned by what I steadfastly held on to as a part of who I was. Yet, I was completely, truly complimented by the refreshing switch in roles -- because how many times have I stupidly assumed some guy in the plumbing aisle of Lowe's knew more than I did?

So I guess I'm complimented in a way that I didn't expect (want). BUT . . . I thank you Lowe's guy because you are a refreshing new breed and I am so happy that you are cool enough to ask a girl what's up in the crazy, intimidating world of amazing expertise that many of us don't understand.