When I think of my screen name, this is how I like to imagine I would look in my proper surroundings. Thank goodness our Creator gave us the gift of imagination along with so many others.
This picture comes from an awesome collection I discovered while looking around for "nymph" pictures of which there are too few. http://www.babydoll.be?Fantasy%20babes%.207.htm
Check out the link above.
When I told her I was not comfortable with it, she asked me why, and frankly I could not come up with a good reason other than it seemed "wrong," and fear about what would happen in an earthquake or fire. She questioned how it could be wrong if no one knows -- unless they walk into her room without knocking (as I did). She keeps a long robe next to the bed so she can put it on in case of emergency. (Indeed, she walks around the house in that robe, and I thought she had a nightgown underneath when in fact she has been naked underneath since Christmas.)
I am still not comfortable with it, but we agreed to abide by your advice. Is it OK for her to sleep in the nude, and why -- or why not? -- WORRIED MOM IN SAN LEANDRO
DEAR WORRIED MOM: There is nothing inherently wrong with sleeping in the nude. Many people do so because they sleep more comfortably that way. Look at the bright side -- it makes for smaller loads of laundry.
Huh? What's wrong with this letter? Where does the idea come from that sleeping without clothing is somehow wrong? This little letter vividly illustrates a vague philosophy that so many of us seem to have; that being, if we don't do it or think it, it must be wrong, weird or abnormal. People need to remove the blinders they mysteriously acquire somewhere along the road to adulthood and open up to the possibility that perhaps others (their child(ren) included) might have a different opinion or approach to life's situations.
I think the mother who wrote this letter found herself trapped in a corner when her daughter simply countered mom's discovery of her nude sleeping by asking what, exactly, was wrong with doing this. The mother had no answer but it was obviously not her habit to sleep in the nude; therefore, to do so was automatically wrong. Is it any wonder that the clothed community finds naturists and nudists so mysterious and controversial? If such a benign, innocent activity such as sleeping naked can cause such a reaction, it's clear we naturists have our work to educate and inform the world of the pleasantries of a clothing-free lifestyle cut out for us.
By the way, I love Abby's answer. For once she doesn't advise worried mom to take her daughter to counseling to get to the bottom of this seemingly perplexing habit!
Does this make you stop and think?
It's true. Clinical studies have proven it. Okay, okay...there weren't any clinical studies and I'm speaking purely from personal experience. Yesterday we went to my husband's company picnic. It's a small outfit and this was their first one. Lots of food was provided and everyone contributed some sort of dish as well. It was good to finally get a chance to match faces to the names of folks I've been hearing about since February. This picnic was held at a place we'd never been to before. There were nice grounds, two swimming pools, lots of picnic tables and about 10 million yellow jackets. I think the entire area was built on ancient yellow jacket burial grounds.
My husband did most of the grilling and anyone who's ever had to fend off aggressive, apparently starving yellow jackets knows what a challenge this is. Trying to actually eat anything without ingesting one is even more so. Yellow jackets are so vile; they sting for the sheer pleasure of it. Of course, I got stung on my thigh. It's a painful sting that makes the surrounding area puff up and turn hard as a rock. Today the entire site alternately burns, throbs and itches.
We took to the waters, hoping it would bring a little relief. We were the only adults in the group who did; this is not an aquatic group, I guess. This, obviously, was not a clothing-optional facility and all in attendance around the pool wore bathing suits. It was the strangest feeling to be in water with material between it and my skin. I didn't care for it at all--it was an alien sensation. This reaction is a major antithesis to what I thought a little over five years ago. My, how things change. As I looked around at the people, I couldn't help thinking how much more comfortable they'd be if they were naked. Even if at no other time, it should be perfectly acceptable everywhere to be naked in or by water. It makes sense to me but I realize this is because I've become so accustomed to the idea. Bathing suits do little more than cut a body into separate pieces and some are so scant one wonders what is actually the point of wearing them at all? It is years of conditioning that deem them necessary to the majority of the population.
I, for one, am so glad I chose to break free from this custom. I might add, also, I've never been stung by any kind of wasp, hornet or bee in all the times I've been naked outdoors. I know this isn't a fair rationalization; it was the food that caused the yellow jackets to descend upon us. It just seemed like such an ironic injustice to be stung while clothed. I think I'm in need of a trip to the Springs to restore my senses and soothe my soul.
1. What's your favorite thing to do while indoors?
Couldn't you have said thing(s)? How to possibly choose just one thing? One answer would have to be making love with my dearest on a thunderstormy afternoon during a rare period of seclusion from the rest of the world. More generally speaking, I would have to say my favorite thing is playing on the computer, be it, surfing, IMing, reading journals or adding to my own.
2. What's your favorite thing to do while outdoors?
No hesitation here. Favorite outdoor activity is stretched out on the lawn reading or daydreaming, floating in the cool pool or steaming in the hot tub at my favorite hot springs.
3. Do you wear any jewelry regularly? If so, what and where?
I usually wear a necklace of different shades of small green beads. I always wear on my right ankle an anklet of connected butterfiles of Mother-of-Pearl given to me by my darling daughter some time ago. Wear earrings 99% of the time; used to have an awesome collection; currently, slowly but surely, collecting a new one. And, of course, I always wear my engagement and wedding rings; however, these two items are more of a defining symbol of who and what I am rather than extraneous jewelry.
4. You have the choice of spending time alone, with a few close friends, with many friends and aquaintances, or in a large crowd consisting of people you do and don't know. Which one would make you the most comfortable?
Now, Patrick, this is actually a twofold question. If I had a choice of spending some time alone, I would always opt for this. Time to myself has always been precious to me. The scenario in which I wouldbe most comfortable would be with a few close friends.
5. How many pairs of shoes do you own?
I hate shoes. I forgot this question was here. I guess I have, maybe, fourteen that I can recall at this time. Wear far less; a work pair, sandels, black pumps, slippers in winter and even, I have to admit, an awesome pair of Cinderella-type CFM shoes that I wear maybe once a year. My job is Not conducive to high heels; you stop wearing them and you're lost forever!
6. READER'S CHOICE QUESTION #21 from Jeanno43 and Cherie: If a fire or other circumstances forced you to leave your home with all of your loved ones and pets -- but only time to rescue one single item, what would you choose to take with you and why?
I would rush back to retrieve a big cardboard box that's full of slides dating from the late 1950's. After the death of my parents, I somehow ended up with these and they're a marvelous record of my entire early childhood, young adulthood continuing up to my wedding day. Through these slides, I can relive those very happy days and for a brief time, my parents are restored to me in a one-dimensional world at least. They are an irreplaceable treasure to me.
Yes, I also ended up with the slide projector and screen but have no recollection as to how.
That's all folks!
This time, there were quite a few same sex couples. I found myself observing them a little more than usual. This was because of something I saw on the way home from work the day before we left. As I got off the exit ramp that took me into town and home, I passed the long-term parking lot on the south end of town. I noticed a little police action going on there. In the second or so as I drove by, my brain registered three images: two defiant, angry looking young men, a female police office and a trashed, gaudily painted vehicle emblazoned with the words: GAY PRIDE SUCKS.
My thoughts fragmented into a myriad of directions. I began to wonder why certain people feel so threatened by homosexuals that they consider it their civic duty to wreak havoc in these peoples' lives. Don't they have enough going on in their own lives to occupy their time? I also thought, not for the first time, how sorry I was that this particular group confisicated the word "gay" as their own to represent their sexual orientation. It's always been a word I've enjoyed using and now it's to be avoided at all costs lest someone misinterpret your meaning. The appropriation of this word is my only complaint regarding this sector of the population. Couldn't they have chosen another word? But then, I'd probably be cross about that, too.
Thinking about that vandalized car made me wonder why anyone should feel so much anger and animosity. I've seen these couples together; they're happy, they love each other. Isn't that really all that matters in the final analysis? Homosexualtiy is not something new. It's been around since the dawn of time; has always been so and will continue to be. After all, who is to say what is normal and what is not? Isn't the bottom line loving someone, anyone, and being loved in return by that someone? Personally, I don't care if an individual wants to love a piano stool. If both parties are happy, it's okay with me. This is most definitely so if they're over 21 and doing no harm to anyone. Remember the phrase, "consenting adults"?
Finally, I thought about the three words that had been defiantly, proudly painted or sprayed on the side of the vehicle: Gay Pride Sucks. Imagine taking this hateful, hurtful phrase literally. Its meaning would become something far and away from the intended message. This phrase would mean, Happily Excited Group of Lion Cubs Nursing! Hardly hateful nor threatening; but I doubt that those who intend harm and hatred towards their fellow man are always educated, literal or pragmatic. I like to think I am all those things.
These thoughts are simply random musings on my part. I'm allowed to do this~this is my journal. Since I left the sin-filled city of San Francisco so many years ago, about the only time I see gay couples is when I go the the Springs. There are some days we visit when the "boys" seem to be out. Other times, it's the "girls". The fact that remains is that they, too, enjoy being with their special someone in a natural state. It's nice to have such a special place where any couple, whether hetero- or homosexual, can feel safe, comfortable and free from harassment. The world needs places such as these. The Springs is such a place.
