“Buddy, you ain’t even the weirdest person in this room…nor at this party…let alone on Tybee Island”.
I was at a party on Tybee Island and I had just announced that my goal was to be the quirkiest person on Tybee. I had a goal. I was on a mission. Only to be shot down.
I was Shocked! Shocked! Shocked, I tell you! And crushed! Did I say I was SHOCKED?
For most of my life my parents did their best to try and give me instructions on how to live my life. I heard the Desiderata more times than I can remember.
“Son, don’t ever let anyone put you down or make you think you’re not worthy of success and good things that happen to you. But, most of all, never think that you’re better than anyone else. You’re just as good as anyone else, but never let yourself think you’re better than anyone else.”
Along with, “You can be anything you want to be. Dream it, believe it, be it.” That’s what was said, but like most parents mine wanted to spare me from the uncertainties of this world by teaching me to always (and I mean ALWAYS) follow the rules. Don’t make waves. Don’t take unnecessary chances. Don’t rock the boat. Don’t color outside the lines. Be a doctor, lawyer, accountant or something of value that you can always depend on. Hard work will take you places.
For years I was wound so tight, buttoned all the way up, walked the straight and narrow and stayed well within the lines.
That is…until my first trip to Tybee Island. I was a late bloomer. I had seen the movie. I had read THE BOOK. Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil. I had been introduced to a culture where colorful, kooky, weird, eccentric and quirky people had fun. I had a revelation. Life could be fun, laughs could be had and people that didn’t worry so much lived longer.
I was a caterpillar about to enter a cocoon with plans to emerge as a fully formed colorful social butterfly. I was poised to let it all hang out. I was going to earn a reputation.
Yet, it just wasn’t to be. My hopes had been dashed. Blown to smithereens by some guy in a corner at a party that had overheard my declaration. He was full of truth serum (meaning Budweiser). It was as if the universe had reminded me it was not in the stars for me to color outside the lines.
And I never even got to share my fascination with pillows. Yep. I’m a pillow freak. I like them all. The kind you sleep on. The kind you sit on. The kind you kick back and relax on. In the bedroom. In the den. In the garden. On the floor. Pillows, pillows everywhere. Cords, tassels, buttons, fringe, embroidery. You name it. Never met a pillow I didn’t like.
Lucky for me I get to indulge myself in the wonderful and colorful pillows throughout the Mermaid Cottages collection. I can flit from room to room. Lie down on a pillow. Sit on a pillow. Hug a pillow. Repose on a bed of pillows. Fantasize. Dream. Relax. Be whomever I want to be.
Just like Doris Day and Rock Hudson in Pillow Talk.
Just like pillows everywhere.
Life is better when you add your own flavor.
It’s about adding a little cord here. Dangle a little fringe there. Pop on a button or two. Get the big box of 64 color crayons. And most of all…color outside the lines as often as you can!
It’s COTTAGE CHEESE!
