Racing stripes

A relatively short post this evening, as it's been a very long day. In recompense, however, I'm going to write an extra one tomorrow - I hope that's okay. (I've also recently been figuring out how to queue posts, in preparation for when I head off to camp, so in theory I'll be able to write entries in advance to be uploaded at certain times.)

Today's post, then, is a further ramble on my sitting position - the improvement of which is encapsulated in the top I was wearing. I'll add a photo from today if I can find one that's decent, otherwise I'll find another, once I'm not on the mobile version of Blogger. For now, though (and in the interest of anyone who might be using a screen-reader, since they aren't always great at translating images to speech), I'll describe it: it's machine-knitted, long-sleeved and decorated by a colourful, alternating pattern of horizontal stripes. It also happens to be the first item of clothing I bought independently, not just with my own money, but going into the shop and completing the entire purchase, with all the rigmarole of having a single hand with which both to drive and hold and then pay for it, on my own. I've had it since I was eleven, I love it, and it still fits. (The post on being skinny is for another day.)

The point of that added bit of history is that it felt a very apt choice of garment for today - especially when Mama made the comment that she did. She picked me up from a show at the National Theatre (about which I'll write properly tomorrow) and, whilst we navigated one of the smallest 'accessible' toilets I've ever encountered, said, 'Your stripes are exactly horizontal. When last do you remember your stripes being exactly horizontal?' This might seem both obtuse and insignificant, but she meant that she's so used to the stripes being slightly skew, because they naturally follow the line of my torso. The fact that she noticed their symmetry shows that I'm sitting more symmetrically - not all the time, but more frequently.

I'm beyond thrilled - because it means that I can feel more confident about wearing slightly more figure-hugging outfits. Not that I do so often - I love my hoodies and baggy trousers and haven't worn a dress since I was ten, by my own request - but it's nice to feel I have the option. Here's to racing ahead with recovery and reclaiming body image, eh?