on being "girlie"

Yes, yes I'm a girl. Duh.

I tend to think of myself as fairly independent. I might not necessarily choose to, but faced with the challenge I would (and have) done simple , yet typically "guy" things like change a tire, jump start my car, lean halfway out my 6th story window to wash them, paint my room, hang artwork and window treatments, set up the home office network, spend several nights out in the wilderness with no modern facilities or human contact, .... thanks much in part to my dear dad. He is a big advocate of sink or swim tough love, the concept of if you don't try you won't learn and just doin' it. He taught me to think for myself, drive stick, and gave me my first and only 99-piece "Just for Her" tool kit when I moved into my college dorm. So, on some level, I pride myself in living up to his expectation and not not doing something just because I it's a "guy" thing to do when I could just ask easily give it a run for the money. Even if you fail, at least your tried and you're better prepared for the next life challenge.

All that aside, I amaze myself when I become "girlie." You know, save your beau's text messages so you can read them over and over from your bedside long after he's sent them or save a flower from a bouquet you got and dry one of the buds so you don't have to throw them all away, or blow you away with something so unexpected you don't even know how to respond (and you have a response for everything), or save the card and envelope of a hallmark card you got in the mail because it was hand addressed to you and had a memorable stamp, or get "dolled" up just the way you know he likes it when normally getting dolled up at all is more a chore than a necessity. For someone who "prides" themselves on independence and is relatively low maintenance, does it mean something when someone else make you feel "girlie"? Are they breaking down some unintentional internal walls? hmmm.....