I find pragmatism to be an attractive quality, assuming that’s the right word. Today at IKEA, I observed this petite blonde with a tape measure clipped to the right back pocket of her jeans. There was something unwomanly about it that I find really appealing.
I feel the same way about women with cell phones clipped to their front jeans pocket; and to think so many women wear earrings! I’ve never had much taste for girlie girls that wear more makeup than frosting on cake. But this…
The woman wasn’t unattractive, but it was a quality—something the tape measure, well, measures—that got me. Besides, my wife is beautiful enough for me, so I tend to only look at other women’s appearance in comparison to her. They usually don’t measure up.
At first glance, there is something masculine about this quality I find so appealing and that the clipped-on gear represents. Masculinity isn’t the quality but another expression of femininity. My ideal relationship is a team, where the couple is totally committed to each other and fully united on the purpose of the family. There’s a pragmatic aspect to that kind of unity and commitment, which the hanging gear represents.
Maybe the attractiveness of this quality is in my blood. My great grandmother, her red hair searing the daylight, hunted with the boys. My mom has pictures of her dressed in hunting clothes, holding a shotgun and standing by her buck (should be plural for her dear she accompanied and the deer she shot). My great grandmother was small, standing about 147 centimeters, but tough. That woman outlived two husbands and died a great great grandmother at 94 (day before my daughter was born).
All the women in my family have this quality, which shows their priorities are in the right place. I’ll take confidence over demure any day. My wife has this quality, although she doesn’t usually see it. But I do.
By the way, my wife, daughter, and I had gone to IKEA to pick up light bulbs for our NOT lamps. Damn, if they weren’t still selling $7.99, so I bought a fifth lamp.