A Life of Style and Purpose: October 2009

How I miss you J. Crew. With your beautiful cashmere cardigans, ruffled tops, fabulous beaded jewelry, and Italian style flats. I miss the way your clothes feel on my skin, I miss the way your sales person follows me around, offers me bottles of water, and gets a fitting room started for me. I miss your hair accessories that cost way too much, but last a lifetime. I miss your long winter coats that look fabulous in every color. Red, white, yellow, black, I want them all. I miss how the clothes are folded before they are wrapped carefully in tissue paper, and placed in a comfortable over the shoulder shopping bag. I miss that moment of glee I encounter as I unwrap these treasures and place them lovingly into my closet. How I miss you J. Crew.

How I miss you my hair stylist. Fabulous Courtney who can turn me into anyone I want to be. From brown to black to red to blonde, you have made all of my hair dreams come true. Katie Holmes, no problem, Anne Hathaway, okay, Cameron Diaz, you got it. Sitting in your chair, sipping coffee, and talking about life. Color, wash, cut, and blow dry, with the snip of your scissors and the spin of your chair, a transformation is made. I leave the salon a different person than I entered. I can take on any challenge, I can overcome any obstacle, I can demonstrate to the world that I can take a risk. Stunning. How I miss you my stylist.

How I miss you my jet set. You inspire me most. Whether it be Florida, Arizona, California. Italy, England, or France. I will speak your language, I will revel in your culture. I will own it, I will become it. The star of my film. Plane..train..car..ship.. I walk, I feel the sun, I talk to the people, I eat and drink, and think of you. Perhaps it is because I do not have a permanent home, that I feel most at home on the jet set. On the highest floor of any grand hotel, is where I belong, is where I belong. How I miss you my jet set.

How I miss you dear friends. So much, you cannot know. I am in my ashram, but wish you were here too. My memories drift back to you, even in my sleep. I am my happiest when you are near. Together on our mountain, at the beach, in the city, or our small town. You continue to follow me, but I have never let you go.

How I miss you warm sun. Shine upon me once more. Blue sky, intense heat, bronzed body, white whites. Active, happy, thrive, alive, I almost remember what you feel like. Come back to me sun. Or bring me back to you. I am ready for your touch again.

I cannot believe that this will be my fourth fall in New York. For you new readers, I live at the school below, sharing the halls with 200 fabulous teenage girls. I am the governess to 17. Since the idea of boarding school may leave you curious, allow me to share some images and realities of life in our stone castle.

Girls are up and at em by 7. No uniforms, just a dress code. Breakfast in the dining hall, then off to morning reports. There they will sing their alma mater and get the announcements for the day. Classes resume until after 3, and then it is off to sports or dance. Following that, they will head to choir, drama, and orchestra. Then dinner, then study hall from 7:30-9:30. All the while, freshmen are clueless, sophomores are having a grand time, juniors are in AP hell, and seniors are completely preoccupied with getting into college. And not just any college. By 9:30, girls are either exhausted, or ready to party. That is where I come in.

In loco parentis is Latin for "in place of a parent." That is what I am. I provide, to the best of my ability: ground rules, guidance, emotional support, a listening ear, a snack, encouragement, discipline, and most importantly, a presence. I heard someone say the other day that 95% of being a parent is simply showing up. I agree with this.

The photos below do not capture the girls in the intensity of their day. Instead they give you an idea of what life is like after the busy day. I warn you... you may want my job after viewing these photos. Enjoy.

Love,
The Governess