"One man's style must not be the rule of another's."
--Jane Austen
Do you copy anyone's personal style? Or, does anyone copy yours? Explain.
Well...my brother Brandon--poor guy--has always put up with my copy-cat ways. The music I listen to, the way I react to shocking things (a strange waaa? sound accompanied by a shoulder shrug and scowl), my penchant for nicknames (he calls me "Lubita." Figure that one out), and my longing for a broken bone wrapped neatly in a plaster cast.
Yes, indeed. When he was 11 or so, Brandon broke his leg at soccer practice. My parent's didn't believe him until the next day, so I marveled as my big brother lay on the downstairs couch groaning in (what I assumed to be) fake agony. My wonder only escalated when he arrived home from the doctor's office with a gorgeous tan full leg cast. (This was before the choose your own color phenomenon. But to me, the cast was a thing of beauty.) After a visit to school, Brandon's cast was a brown and rainbow yearbook of well-wishes. And I got in trouble when I wrote on my arm. No fair!
But it was the attention my brother received for his broken leg that made me want to copy him. I even watched as one day my little Mom (she's 4'11"!) carried him upstairs! I tried to jump off the swing set, but no broken bones. I tried making a cast out of one of Dad's tube socks. Not quite right...it was more of a puppet.
So I did something that I'm not proud of, and that I admit is really gross.
When the day finally came for Brandon's cast to come off, the doctor allowed him to bring home the two halves--like an enormous ugly shell. And I would find them and put them on. And try to walk around the house in a stinky used cast.
Because I wanted to be just like my big brother.
Do people copy my style? Not that I know of, simply because I'm not quite sure what my style is. I try to express my individuality in whatever way I can. I enjoy being creative, and that sometimes comes across in the way I dress and the way I behave.
Except when it comes to broken bones.
But it was the attention my brother received for his broken leg that made me want to copy him. I even watched as one day my little Mom (she's 4'11"!) carried him upstairs! I tried to jump off the swing set, but no broken bones. I tried making a cast out of one of Dad's tube socks. Not quite right...it was more of a puppet.
So I did something that I'm not proud of, and that I admit is really gross.
When the day finally came for Brandon's cast to come off, the doctor allowed him to bring home the two halves--like an enormous ugly shell. And I would find them and put them on. And try to walk around the house in a stinky used cast.
Because I wanted to be just like my big brother.
Do people copy my style? Not that I know of, simply because I'm not quite sure what my style is. I try to express my individuality in whatever way I can. I enjoy being creative, and that sometimes comes across in the way I dress and the way I behave.
Except when it comes to broken bones.
2 comments:
I am ever so slightly embarrassed to admit this, but alas, i used to copy your style. I still do in some ways--the legacy (of course, you are NOT dead) will live on. I miss copying you to be honest. I bought a pair of Chacos like yours for myself for Christmas. I thought of you.
grace
Yeah I'll give you the New Yorker issue as soon as I finish reading it..which might be a while considering it's outrageously long articles. haha. And I desperately want the list of "have you reads" because I see we like a lot of the same authors (ZZ Packer!!). Oh and my poetry is going to be published in the upcoming news letter. I'm so nervous because poetry is my weakest section of creative writing.
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