As I passed him, a man working at a booth in the mall whistled. At me. Probably at me. I mean, I'm almost certain.
I was wearing my winter coat and pushing a stroller containing my exquisitely wonderful 11-month old, which made it more exciting to get whistled at. It's funny how, when you're under 30, you want to clobber the louts who wolf-whistle at you. When you're over 30, you think maybe you should give them $5 tips, those sweet gentlemen!
So I walked away thinking, "Go, me. That classy mall worker thinks I'm a hot mama. It must be so! This bulky coat can't contain my explosive inner hottitude."
But then I second-guessed myself. Maybe there was a gorgeous little college woman walking next to me and I didn't notice her because I was too busy cultivating my inner hottitude. Maybe that was someone else's whistle that I was taking credit for.
And I briefly contemplated walking back to the mall worker and asking, "Excuse me, but was that me you were whistling at?" ("It was? Oh, thank you. Here's $5.")
But I still remember asking if there really was a Santa Claus and getting the honest answer, and two crushing disappointments in one lifetime might have been too much to bear, so I just pushed that stroller right outside. My self-esteem has been in limbo ever since.
Pardon me. I need to go find a construction site.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
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the best post i've read in a while...i laughed out loud and my husband looked at me funny...he did not whistle at me though. boo-hoo *elizabeth
ReplyDeleteI say err on the side of sexy ;)
ReplyDeleteYou're hot. You know it. Embrace your hottitude.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it was directed at you, Jenna.
ReplyDeleteI whistled at you from Omaha, but you were too far away to hear it.
ReplyDeleteI... I love you all.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Take those esteem boosts where you can find them. As I push 40, I'm thinking of teaming up with the local eye doctor. When I get one of those rare whistles, I want to go up, hand the man a coupon, and say 'Hey, son, better get those checked.'
ReplyDeleteYou know what’s even more disconcerting? Hearing that whistle while walking through the mall with your amazingly beautiful teenage daughter (who is two inches taller than you), and has her own inner hottitude going on. Yikes!
ReplyDeletehottitude! Love it!
ReplyDeleteLoved this post. But, just wanted to prepare you that as you push 50you may be shocked to discover (as I have been) that you just don't care anymore. It's actually incredibly liberating, since no one looks at me anymore, anyway. I mean, who needs to dress up and put on makeup, just for leaving the house? Rather than feel badly I’m being ignored, I love it! I go out without makeup, wearing ratty clothes (which some might term, "pajamas") all the time. No one notices! Who hasn’t fantasized about what they could do if rendered invisible?
ReplyDelete(Then again, Jenna, your incredible hottitude may, alas, rob you of experiencing this "Baby Boomer Women's Lib" as I call it.
Are you kidding? You are beautiful! That whistle was so directed at you!
ReplyDeleteI was once pushing my younger son in his stroller down Amsterdam Avenue. We passed an outdoor cafe, and sitting at one of the tables was Richard Gere. Well, when I passed his table, I was looking straight at him, and he Checked Me Out. Yes he did. Up and down, then he looked at me and did the smile/nod. I smiled and nodded back, then got outta there. I was mortified!
ReplyDeleteMortified?? Why were you mortified?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you were whistled at. Accept it proudly!
ReplyDeleteSmiles,
Michele
Writing the Cyber Highway
You're last sentence in the post mentioned finding a construction site, and it's been a while since you've posted. I hope they haven't kidnapped you! :)
ReplyDeleteLOL! Nope... just working too hard. :(
ReplyDeleteMaybe when I'm closer 50 Doreen, I'll feel like you, but at 42, I still get it and I still appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteWhat really bites though is when I realize that guys half my age are hitting on me. I'm blessed to look quite a few years younger than I actully am, but that's a really sharp, double-edge sword sometimes.
And Jenna ... that whistle was so directed at you. So, take the Loreal moment (You're worth it!) and push on :-)
OUCH!
ReplyDeleteA guy said I looked like I was in my twenties last week.
ReplyDeleteI whooped with delight!
But yeah, a whistle now and then would be nice too.
Loved this post! You rock. I say go struttin' the mall again and see how many more whistles you can get. :D
ReplyDelete