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Friday, June 6, 2008

impressions

    At what point do you stop trying so desperately to impress other people?  Even those who are trying to be unique--like I often do--when you get right down to it, you're trying to be different, to stand out.  To be noticed in a good way.  And that's not so different from most.  I often think God must be very amused at our theatrics--at the little shows we put on for each other.  Amused, and a little sad, maybe.  

   I guess I am thinking about this because I went to a club tonight. It was elite.  There was a dress code--so much so that one of my friends almost didn't get in because he was wearing shorts that were not Dolce and Gabbana or Michael Korrs.  The lady made a big deal about that and was patronizing to him.  It was ugly and made me not want to go into her stupid club (even if it is partly owned by Cameron Diaz).  I did go, though, because the club was on top of a city building and had a pool and my friends wanted to see it.  So, we finally became the "cool ones"-or at least, cool enough to be given wrist bracelets and let onto a special elevator.  
   Once up there, I will admit it was a little cool--I mean, the view was nice.  Oh, and there are a surprising amount of people on this earth that think I am Russian.  Really, I get it all the time. I am tempted to learn the language and just say yes next time I am asked (which will probably be in about a week, at this rate).  Shortly after entering, a man came up to me and said that he and some friends had a bet as to whether I am Russian or not and could I clear it up...? How many times must one explain that they are not Russian?   
    Oh, and then another guy asked me to dance.  I politely pretended not to understand him.  Well, at first I didn't really understand him, and then I just went with it.  It went something like this:
Guy: Would you like to dance?
Me: Oh, yeah I am a dancer!
Guy: Huh?
Me: You asked if I am a dancer--I am.
Guy: Oh...Ok. What kind of dancer?
Me: Ballet, jazz, modern--I am here with A Chorus Line...
 
  It went on, but isn't worth writing.  The main point is that I deftly avoided the topic of dancing with him--which is not something I ever want to do (dance with him, that is--I would be glad to continue avoiding the topic, though).  And then my friend came over and rescued me.  Gotta love friends. 
   Anyway, one of the things that really stood out to me was that here were all these people gathered in one place, trying desperately to impress somebody, anybody.  The air was heavy with it.  You could feel eyes on you wherever you went, measuring, comparing.  And the sad part is that in such a screaming, crowded, and busy place, it is very easy to feel alone.  To feel like nobody knows you.  That is one of my prayers; to always have the good people God has placed in my life as friends really know me.  If I start hiding from them and spending all my time trying to impress the world, then I know something is wrong.  Life becomes shallow and never good enough, because though there may be some who make a worse impression than me, there will always be someone who makes a better impression than me.  I become precarious, perched on another's opinion.  So, how about not even going down that road?  Sounds good to me.  How about resting in the unbeatable fact--yes fact--that each of us is created by a God who doesn't make mistakes; a God who not only loves us, but likes us too. Finds our thoughts interesting, our likes and dislikes worth something.  I know the word is overused and lost its sparkle, but each of us truly is special.  It's the way we were designed and I'd rather not fight it.  And you know what's really beautiful?  A person who is comfortable in their own skin; who goes beyond the draw of self-absorption and the paralyzing snare of insecurity to actually notice others.  To look around and see what needs to be done to make that moment better.  For someone else.  There's contentment and fulfillment in that--and a refreshing lack of loneliness.  
  Ok, it's 3 am.  I need to sleep.  But one more shallow thing, by which I hope you will be very very impressed by me (at least I am honest, right?). I got my hair done at the Ken Paves Salon in Hollywood today and who was getting her hair done in the chair right next to me, you might wonder?  Ashlee Simpson.  Yep, they were layering her carrot-red extensions while she talked about her new bump, her preggers bump.  So, if you didn't know that (and actually care), then you heard first from me.  Only in L.A., ladies and gentleman...
  
 

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jess..i loved your post..it's so true..thanks for sharing your heart! and that is really neat about Ashlee Simpson! love, sarah

Susan Marie said...

Wow, I never knew that you were often mistaken for a Russian! All I get are accusations of Amish-ness! (which, by the way, will be the name of my band if I ever start one...)
-Susan

jason j said...

Whenever I've seen clubs on TV or in the movies, I've always got that same sense that you were talking about. Just sad and shallow places. Any place that would let you in based upon your looks or dress sounds like some sort of high school nightmare to me.

Anyway, just my opinion. A lot of people would probably disagree with me. :)

Anonymous said...

I got asked why I have a slavic look too sometimes.

I have no idea where it comes from!

Jessica said...

Yeah, if it's not Russian--which is people's first guess--then its European of some kind.

And Susan--Amish?! Really? I don't get it--I mean, do they not see you driving a car, using a cell phone, living in a fully electric home...? Oh, and not to mention the entire lack of long hair in a bun, long skirts, drab colors--are these blind people asking if you are Amish?!

christine said...

You know what my first comment on your blog is going to be about? Does Ashlee Simpson look the same in person? HaHa : ) I know it's shallow but that's so weird that you were sitting next to her getting your hair done!
I loved reading what you wrote about the club both your reaction to being there and the way you described it. : )

Jessica said...

Hi Christine! Let's see...She looks pretty tame right now. Long gone are the days when she is trying to look emo and something like Avril Lavigne, I guess. She was pretty with a bohemian flowered blouse and jeans. Her long red extensions were fine--but I didn't love the color. But yeah, she looks the same as she does on TV--I mean, at least enough so that I recognized her.

Lady Leth said...

I hate to say it, but its always cool to see famous people!

Anonymous said...

You don't need to hate to say it Lady Leth... give yourself over to your love of celebrity!

I am watching a German film right now where the lead looks a little like me to me.

Why can't us Latshaws just look American.

Jessica said...

Well, as long as you steer clear of looking like that one aviator at Disneyland that was a poor-man's version of yourself, you should be fine.

It's funny though, American's don't even look American because there is no one race that is American. But for some reason, we don't look American. Explain that to me...