Growing up, I dreamed of being SO beautiful that men would stop to stare and turn in place to watch me walk by. I first understood the idea from watching a Judy Garland Easter movie. When I was in my early thirties this did happen. In a local grocery store. I stopped to pick up ice cream on my way home from a church fireside. I’d walked in happy, noticed the reaction. My dream was coming true. I walked taller. stuck out my chest just a little. I knew I could now die happy.
My brother-in-law also wanted attention so he Super Glued a cup to the top of his car just above the drivers seat. And as expected, as he drove through town, many concerned people honked, rolled down their window and pointed. I don’t know if he felt he could then die happy but he was gratified.
Last week I saw the back of a man’s head as he was handing out hundreds of hundred dollar bills to those in new York who’d lost their homes. The news lady explained he didn’t want to be recognized other than the red hats he and his body guards wore. My thought is; if you live in New York you’d think twice before wearing a red hat for a while.
When I got home years ago with my ice cream and happened to look in the mirror at the vision that was me. The stop in your tracks Easter Parade reactions I was getting at the grocery slipped from ‘dream come true’ to night mare! This was due to five extremely black stripes dripping from under each eye. I’d heard something wonderful at my fireside and had cried.
I can’t remember the topic of that fireside but it would be nice if it had been humility.  nancymauerman.com