When I wear my fringed and beaded western jacket, my girls roll their eyes. My granddaughter (the 10 year old fashionista) shudders and walks some distance from me. But others go on and on about this jacket. I finally asked a gal in Aspen why she liked it and she said it was more me than the jacket. It was ME, being authentic. Not being self-conscious. Not being afraid of what others might think. That is how 60 year olds become sexy! This is something that has to come with age, this ability to step out of the cloak of conformity we wore all those many years.

I have always admired people who know who they are, who don’t conform to match others around them. I have to admit that I have been a conformist for most of my life. I learned at an early age that it’s a lot easier to get along in this world when you are camouflaged. I changed who I was to match my love interests. I was much, much more authentic with Mr. Virgo, probably because I was so much older by the time we met. And since he died, I have had an opportunity to really find out who I am. I’ve found I’m much stronger than I ever thought I was. And I trust my own judgement more. I’m comfortable in my own skin. I’ve learned you can be assertive and not be a b&@$#. When you get to that place in your life, you become a magnet and attract other like-minded individuals and your world explodes with color and music and companionship. People WANT to be around you and seek you out. It’s amazing!

Life is a sweet, sweet thing, isn’t it?