Thursday evening, I had just gotten out of my work study. I was wearing my favorite ensemble, complete with the brand new lacy knee-length skirt that I had gotten on sale for $10.
It always feels good to be wearing your favorite outfit, it gives you an air of confidence, and such was the feeling that I had as I strolled my way across campus.
Completely unbeknownst to me, between my book bags and my quick pace, my skirt had in fact hiked itself up all the way to my hip on one side, and was only being covered with the see-through lace.
“Sexy skirt,” Candy, our office manager, said to me as I strolled into the East Tennessean office.
Just as I opened my mouth to accept her compliment the cold hard truth hit me . or maybe it was just the unusually cool breeze I had been feeling during my entire walk. I looked down to my bare but lacy leg. Suddenly the pride I had been feeling all morning long was shattered.
Do not get me wrong, I actually enjoy looking for meaning in the most simplistic of events, so naturally there was a lesson to be learned here and surely a column to be written!
Now I just had to figure out exactly what sort of lesson did I take from this? There had to be something here column-worthy. Stop prancing around like a moron and actually stop to take a look at myself occasionally perhaps? (Nope). Take the Buc-Shot more often? (Maybe). Stick to jeans? (Definite possibility).
What is there to be learned from an innocent stroll across campus with the sun shining overhead, the birds chirping and I, in my favorite skirt without a care in the world thinking only of how well my day had been going, completely oblivious to the swarm of onlookers whose thoughts probably ranged all the way from a good “whoa” to a “should I tell her?”
Will I let this affect me and my future strolls about campus? To let the worry over whether or not I am putting on a mini-peep show affect the spring in my step? Of course not!
So the lesson you ask? Stop worrying about the future, and just live in the moment! You never know when you are going to be having the next wardrobe malfunction.
In fact, next time you see me walking around campus looking like an idiot, be happy for me, and take pride in the fact that it isn’t about how you look or what other people are thinking, it is the journey and how you decide to embark upon it.
Other lessons to be learned from this include is ignorance is bliss and occasionally say “hi” to your office manager in your editorials.
So get out there and be free to live your life! Hike up your skirts and enjoy the walk.

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