It must be accepted that there is a gargantuan gulf at times between how we see ourselves and how others see us. For example:
How Mz Kitty sees herself: a relatively well rounded individual, well travelled, had a few adventures, can still walk up small mountains, runs a department, has opinions and is not afraid to use them, may be slowing down a bit but can still dance over an entire Glastonbury weekend, handy with some yarn.
How the teenage waitress in the Pyecombe Farm Shop and Cafe sees Mz Kitty as noted on her receipt: 'woman with chutneys'.
🙀😳💥
I'm not sure the waitress understood why a 53 year old woman was suddenly recounting to her that there was so much more to her life than being a 'woman with chutneys', and I'm not entirely sure why I was doing it either, but I have now settled into eating the chutney and accepting that in a compartmentalised world there are those who will only ever know us as 'woman who works', 'woman who writes', 'women who travels', 'woman who knits', 'woman who likes chutney', etc. Just give thanks that we will always have that select group of friends who can join the dots.
