It seems like those word mean something horrible but this time they mean exactly the opposite. I have been sitting here trying to choose words for the title of this post but none seem right. They just don't convey what I saw as I drove away from the school this morning.
Today was Midieval Day at the middle school. The teachers have been preparing us for months. Several notes came home with little blurbs about the mini classes they would be able to choose, small details of what to expect and they always ended with a comment about how appropriate it would be to come in costume. Kieran loves drama and costumes are fun stuff here. But usually just kind of what our creative brain can concoct out of the dress up bin. This time Kieran was hoping for something a little more authentic. We started early looking for items to use from the D.I. (local thrift store). We found one or two things but not a whole costume so we opted for renting something from the college.
The Costume shop on campus is dress up heaven. We had a helper, I can't remember her name, who took us into the shop. She showed us the small period sketches of things typical for the time period . After honing in on the particular era that interested us she started moving racks. Clothes racks just doesn't give you the right impression so let me explain. Each rack was probably about five feet wide, eight feet tall, thirty feet long and so many of them that the open space in the room was limited to the entry and about two ailses of space to walk between the racks. These racks are so large and so many that you would never be able to see the costumes without the motors which move the racks to open the desired ailse down the rack you want to look at. The costumes are put in order by era. We started with the earlier times of what could be considered mideval and or rennisance. Our helper went down the row picking out the ones that would be small enough to fit Kieran. If not for our helper we might still be there. There are so many costumes. Each one she pulled out she would ask Kieran if she liked that one. You might think that any one would do, but you know, not all of those dresses were pretty. So we left the weird or ugly and piled up the pretty ones to try. After our arms were full and the prospects exciting we went out of the shop and into the sewing room where there was a dressing room.
Then the fun really got started. It reminded me of nothing so much as the Chrismases we went shopping for wedding dresses. I would get the dress off the hanger crawl into the top with both hands out in front of me like going through a low tunnel and pile the dress over my arms slinky style. Then I would turn and drop the folds over the top of Kierans head. She would catch the arms of the dress with hers and voila instant renisannce princess. I wish you could have been there. In the end we liked two of the dresses best. One was an orange gold color with red trim and a fur collar. It looked like maybe a viking princess. The one we chose was pink (if you know Kieran's taste in color and clothes you know this is a surprise) The bodice was trimmed in wide flowered ribbon and the sleeves were puffy sheer fabric under the same ribbon woven to make decorative sleeves. It was a beautiful dress.
Kieran took the dress home and hung it in her closet for today. This morning she was up early. She said she couldn't sleep she was so excited. She ate and dressed quickly. Then we started on the hair Kieran has pefect hair it is about waist lenghth. So I started braiding. First I did a braid around the top like a crown but she said no way to authentic (translation: too fancy) Next I pulled it half way out and braided it back from the other side and around till I met up with the braid I had made first. This was much simpler and the two long tails of the braides hung down the back. This was much more what she had in mind.
Last we tucked a couple of handkerchiefs into the bodice for modesty sake and she was ready to go. I dropped her off at the school and turned my car around to leave. As I looked back down the side walk and saw my beautiful girl hurrying into school. I got a little teary. I still can't put into words what I saw and felt but I think it does have a little to do with princesses. It was not really about the hair and the dress.We are busy everday with our everyday lives. The things that need to get done and the things we want to get done fill the hours. I try to choose carefully just what I will put in the time I have. I have been taught that what we do and the choices we make are important. I have been taught that we are all children of God. I belive these things in my heart. Today as I saw Kieran going into school I think I saw these things with my eyes. My own princess went to school today. She was not the only one. I feel like I am always greatful for my family and friends. I love them. I wouldn't want to be here without them but I think because they are always with me and are all brilliant people I can forget how special they are. Today as I watched Kieran go into school I was a little dazzled by her and reminded just how special we all are. Princesses and princes. You really are impotant people.
