This past weekend there was a festival in one of the cities near us. It was the Milpitas International BBQ & Festival. It was very small which was kind of nice because it wasn’t as crowded as some of the festivals get. There was a stage at each end. One stage had kids performing. It was really cool. The first band we saw as we walked up to the festival looked as if the singer and two guitar players were kids, but I think the drummer was an adult. The other band we saw as we were walking out looked like only the singer was a kid . . . but I only glanced up quick once and didn’t stop to look. But I was impressed by the kids. So, I just wanted to mention that because I love that the kids have a place to perform. But what I am really writing about is one of the vendors was selling animal ears. On my first pass, I thought they were cute, but I thought an almost 50 year old should not be walking around in animals ears. Also, I didn’t want people to think I am a furry. I don’t dress like an animal. I don’t pretend I am an animal. I don’t want to be an animal. I don’t want an animal avatar or persona. So, I walked right by the booth. But . . . as I was walking around I kept seeing them. At one point I looked up and for the smallest fraction of a second I thought the woman walking past me had “real” furry ears. The vendor did a tremendous job of matching the ears to the woman’s hair. And she did that with most of the women we saw. So, I went back and got some ears.
I was amazed at how well the vendor matched all the different hair colors. There were little girls who went for the brightly colored sparkly ones, but it seems as if the teenagers and up, opted for ones that matched, blended, or “went with” their hair.
If you see pictures of me with ears on, I am not a furry. They are just cute. They are fun to wear. It is just like if I wore a flower in my hair that does not make me a plant. 🙂
When I first saw them I thought they were a headband, but they are not, they are separate. The ears are sewn onto those bendable barrettes. To hold them on more securely you put a bobby pin across the barrette. I wore mine teaching two separate Nia classes on two separate days and they stayed in place each time. I had to adjust some of my arm movements though because I am not used to having furry ears. My hand had to go very wide around my head in that move where you circle your head with your hand!
I found that after wearing them, once I take them off my head feels lighter.
I get a kick out of driving and seeing the corner of my right ear in my rearview mirror.
They also compel people to talk to you . . . so that is nice. It is fun to see their faces, for a split second their face seems to register confusion — just the quickest second — then their eyes light up, possibly with the silliness of it or the fact that for a second they thought a woman had furry ears. Then their face breaks into a smile and it almost seems like they are speaking before they realize it. Strangers sparking up a conversation is fun.
Today I wore them to my Nia class. Afterwards I went to the store. I would HIGHLY recommend getting some ears. I was walking down the aisle and a young man working at stocking a refrigerated case looked at me and smiled – it was a nice friendly customer service smile, but then just as he was turning away he turned back doing a double-take and his face broke into a HUGE smile. Again . . . not sure if it is because he didn’t notice the ears at first, then he did or what it is. But it is WAY worth any type of feeling of I-am-too-old-to-be-sporty-fake-furry-ears.
Also, we live near a fire station and the store we go to is frequented by Firemen. They have never talked to me before, but today they did. I had just taught two classes, so I was not looking very “fresh” – let’s say – but who doesn’t want to talk to a person wearing furry ears?
So . . . there you have it. I have ears and they are basically a hair accessory, to add some fun. And they are bringing smiles to people faces and that really is one of the BEST things ever.
So . . . have I talked you into it? Are you going to order some ears?
Terre Pruitt's Blog 