Seasons of Life as Seasons of Sales. Or: Shopaholic with Life

Meeting people after a while can be illuminating. Let's say, last time you met these people was five years ago and now, meeting them again, you can notice how the season of life has changed. Ten years ago we were coping with the first university problems, five years ago we were getting our degrees and now, now it's the time for family life: that means, obviously, wedding, honeymoon and... babies. Yes, I know, we Italians are slow people and we like taking our time and doing things in the "right" (= traditional) order. It's true, some of us are having children and get married after that, but let's say that these "sparkles" of creativity can be condoned in 2009.

I don't know what's the point of this post. It's just that - looking at some friends' pics and lives - I thought it is so easy to follow the trend, to let them guide you through the stream. We know what the path is almost as it were some sort of "migratory route" that our parents and grandparents and grandgrandparents have already traced for us. It feels like it's in our genes, even if I know too well that there's nothing natural in this.

So, what's my point again. I guess... that maybe, it's the first time in my life that I'm not eager to follow the route. I longed for going out at night when I was 18 or travelling alone or giving my first kiss and all the adolescence- "rite-of-passage"-stuff. That time I wanted to be like everyone else. But I never, never, never wanted this, let's face the fact.

I never wanted to marry, even as a child I hated the idea of having a dowry (in Italian, "dote") as that made me feel like a super (or quite) accessorized car...

I'm perfectly happy with all these people finding their reason to be in the acquisition of a house, a white dress, an office, some travels (as we are STILL young as they love to underline...) and a couple of kids, but I would like not to feel some sort of urge to justify myself because I don't feel like it and I really don't know if I am going to feel like it in this life. I'm quite positive about the fact that I am not and I am quite satisfied with my choice.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Leading image: all these people doing the same things at the same time made me think about the very first day of sales when you see the crowd heading towards boutiques and shops examining possible purchases in unison.

On the background of this image, two texts are echoing in my mind: "To everything (turn, turn, turn)/ There is a season (turn, turn, turn)..." and "When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple" (that is, "Warning" by Jenny Joseph).

I long for being that old woman wearing purple. I want to be her NOW as it's just my feeling, or the season's choice for the wardrobe is very limited indeed?

...