Sandwiched

My reading this week has left me feeling sandwiched between two generations.  First I read a book that I gave to my mom, I See You Made an Effort: Compliments, Indignities and Survival Stories from the Edge of 50, by Annabelle Gurwitch.  She enjoyed it so much that she let me read it after she was through.   It was a funny look at the terrible crime of getting older in our society.  For all of the wry wit, there was, however, one heartbreaking part that I was not prepared for.
Then, this weekend, I went shopping with my children and some of my nieces and nephews.  Feeling like the young, cool aunt taking the kids to places like American Eagle and Abercrombie, I proudly held up outfits that I thought were cute,  only to have one niece shake her head at me.
"Aunt Chrissy, with a high-waisted skirt like that, a person would need a belly shirt."
Needless to say, I was not a cool enough aunt to buy anyone a belly shirt.  The skirt went back on the rack, and I went home and read two Lauren Conrad books that I have seen my students read, Beauty and Style. And after that reading, am I any more beautiful?  No.  Any more informed about style?  Maybe, but I still wouldn't count on any 'tweens wanting my fashion advice.  My credit cards, yes; my fashion sense, no.

Happy reading,
Christine