Beautiful

Mark and I went and saw a $1 movie today (Tropic Thunder it was over-the-top, but fun!). We walked into the theater and there were about 5 people in the theater. I typically don’t make a habit of sitting so close to people if the theater is so empty, but what appeared to be a father and his 15-year old daughter were sitting right about the very spot in the center that I would have picked. So we sat in the row behind them over to their right.

And as I was scooting in, the girl turned around and said: “Excuse me ma’am.” I thought I hit her head or something, so I was preparing to say “sorry” or some equivalent. I replied simply: “Uh, yeah?” And softly and sweetly, she said: “You are beautiful.”

I nearly dropped my drink, turned and looked at Mark. And uttered back: “Wow…. Thank you!” I was in sweats, no makeup and messy hair, and a teenaged girl told me I was beautiful. I was stunned. So I giggled a bit. She engaged me further as if polling for my reaction by saying: “Are you laughing because I said that?” Mark chimed in and said: “She will be laughing off and on for a week because you said that.”

I told her she totally made my day to be given such a compliment by such a beautiful girl as her. She then started into what seems to be our (read: most females’) mantra after receiving such a gift of a compliment: “Oh my hair is such a mess, and I…..” but then she kinda trailed the mantra off and simply replied: “Thank you.”

I was amazed by this exchange. That kind of compliment isn’t something I hear often even when I feel like I look absolutely smashing. And I don’t think that girl had any sort of ulterior motive — I couldn’t imagine what it would be if she did have one — she just made my day. And I am truly grateful for that.

Mark and Kelly at the DPA