Stereotypes

I've been driving my new truck around the past few days. I've been getting some interesting comments from people who think it's a bit odd/funny to see little me driving such a big beast of a truck. A car or minivan? Sure. An SUV, even...not strange at all. A big monster TRUCK, though? But I like it. And I think part of the reason I'm enjoying it, part of the reason I think it's so cool, is because of that contradiction. Yeah, it doesn't really look like me. What a contrast to see me, as I was yesterday, literally climbing into the front seat of this big truck in a black skinny skirt and heels. Certainly doesn't fit the normal stay-at-home-Mormon-Mom stereotype that I appear to be. But you know what? I'm finding that I dislike stereotypes. People are always surprised to see me outside , not only mowing the lawn, but then also edging and blowing away grass clippings with my leaf blower as well. Surprised to see me out sweating along side of Bryan as we clean out the garage, haul wheelbarrow load after wheelbarrow load of mulch to the backyard, dig down deep into mud to fix sprinkler heads, etc. So, no, I don't, in many ways, fit into that stereotypical mold. In many ways I do. But I think that you're never going to find someone that is that perfect stereotype. I remember many years ago being at a neighborhood gathering with a bunch of women, one of whom had just found out that I had a bachelors degree in history from the U of U. I was rather taken aback at the look of utter surprise on her face. I was 25 years old, a stay at home Mom with two kids and I have no doubt that she figured that I had got married young (which I did, actually) and immediately started having kids. (Not that that's bad!) I was slightly insulted as I realized that to her, a college graduate-professional working-single Mom, I seemed to be a young, naive, piece of fluff. I've tried hard since then to not mentally pigeon-hole other people into specific molds. But I'm also finding that I enjoy going out of my way to NOT seem like a part of the stereotype that I would most fit into, either. Is that silly and maybe...a little bit wrong? Because there is certainly nothing wrong with that stay-at-home-Mormon-Mom type of person. I'm proud to be that person. But I'm also proud of the fact that I have things that are just me. That I do shock people sometimes. That I'm different too. And I think that everyone has things like that that make them not perfectly fit a stereotype. There are, obviously, things that surprise people about me. but I have no doubt that there are things that would surprise me about them. We should just chuck stereotypes, don't you think? So there are my thoughts that have been rambling around in my head the past 24 hours or so. I'm sorry if they came out in a jumble....like they just spilled out of my brain in a random pile. But there you have it.