doid: Chili cheese fries and my "ugly duckling" syndrome

I have an unexpected yet likable relationship with compliments.

It's like with chili cheese fries.

When I was a kid, I didn't think chili could go with fries, or that fries could go with cheese. However, I was all for chili with a little bit of cheese on top. I thought everyone who ate chili cheese fries had their brains taken over by aliens or something. But then, one day, I was dared to eat a chili cheese fry. It wasn't just any dare, mind you. It was a double dog dare. So, I had to eat it, duh. I plugged my nose and took a bite.

And it was, without a doubt, the best thing to ever happen to me. I was like, "How did I not think this was good before?!"

When I was younger, I wasn't necessarily the "coolest" or "most popular" girl in school. I had a slight unibrow (gross right?) I wore high water jeans, I didn't brush my hair, I had thick glasses, I stuttered whenever I got nervous (especially when called on in class) I laughed at really lame jokes the teacher's made...it wasn't so much a "laugh" as it was a "guffaw"...And I had a tendency to stare at clocks or walls for extended periods of time.

I am on the second row, in the white and gray sweatshirt. Kindergarten.

Me, third grade. Yes, I signed my picture.

I am on the front row, on the far left. Fifth grade. What did I tell you?

Summer before sixth grade. Oh, good golly.

I didn't think I "went well" with compliments...hence the chili cheese fry reference. :)

Fast forward eight years, I'd say I've transformed from an "ugly duckling" to a *cough cough* "swan" on the outside. I've learned how to dress myself, how to style my hair, how to wear contacts, and where to spray perfume on my wrists, neck, and hair.

Though a "swan" on the outside, I am sometimes still that "ugly duckling" on the inside. I am sometimes shy and timid. I am still that little girl in elementary and middle school who'd whisper hello or laugh really loud in people's faces. Just an awkward, confused mess.
Today, I was complimented quite a lot because of my outfit:

An oversized blue button down shirt (kindly donated by Zac)
A cilp on Slytherin tie
Robot necklace
Black skinny jeans
Beat up converse
Curled hair
A charm bracelet
A Hawaiian bracelet

The really weird thing is I was so excited to wear this outfit on campus. I did a runway show for Zac before I left for school. He loved it, I loved it, we loved it (mostly because I don't wear makeup or do my hair as much as I used to before getting married...Probably the motivation behind looking so fly today). So when I got to school, I walked quickly through the HFAC, hoping no one would see my outfit. I thought that so strange and then decided to walk slower. And people came up to me, complimented me, then wanted to chat! I blushed through the compliments and then quickly took the focus off of me, and onto them. I felt better that way. It almost tasted like a chili cheese fry. In a totally not weird way :)