It’s that time of the year again: when I fall back in love with New Jersey. There is nothing like the tri-state area during the spring/summer… Nothing. The weather is warmer, everyone is happier, dressing up is less complicated, and life is just easier. I told my boyfriend that we had to relocate to California before I fall back in love with our home state, but since we set the date already, I’ll just consider this a long distance relationship until the weather in NJ becomes shitty again, and my reasons for moving are reinstated. For now, I’ll enjoy it while I’m here.
Yesterday, it was 82 degrees — the warmest it’s been since last August. I abandoned my post just to be outside and enjoy the arrival of spring. I decided it was the perfect day for a bike ride, so I changed into my army-colored denim shorts, but my god, something didn’t feel right. Up until the weather got a little warmer, my daily attire consisted of either yoga crops or leggings. Sure, in the Bikram studio, I wear just a bra and hot yoga shorts, which basically looks like a two-piece bathing suit, but outside the yoga studio, I haven’t worn shorts or exposed my legs since the summer time. When I got outside with my bike, I considered going back up to my room to change, but my ego convinced me not to. The weather was warm enough, and they were the same shorts, and I was the same size. I was just not used to the feeling of short-shorts anymore, that’s all. Meanwhile, on my bike ride through the park, I was dealing with major camel toe and encountering men saying, “I love you” as I biked past them. I was not used to this attention anymore. Of course, there were men in Italy who would make comments at me as I walked by, but it was 30 degrees then, and I was bundled up in at least four layers with leggings and combat boots, so at least I knew they were commenting on my pretty face and not my thunder thighs.
I always wondered when this day would come, but I think this may be the year that I retire the short-shorts. I always see (especially at the Jersey shore) moms in their 40s wearing short-shorts, and I think, Aren’t they too old for that? Like every early 20-something, I have considered myself immune to the effects of aging, but I guess my metabolism is not what it used to be, or maybe I just need to update my short collection. The shorts were six years old, come to think of it. I was a totally different person with different ‘fashion’ (if you could call it that). I should go shopping and find some short-shorts more suitable to my 23-year old personality and not my 18-year old, coming-of-age, skinny bitch self.
The Sum of 20Something 