Tuesday, May 09, 2006

uniform ['yü-n&-"form]
a distinctive outfit intended to identify those who wear it as members of a specific group
Synonyms include: constant, equable, even, akin, analogous, carbon, consistent, ditto, double, equal, identical, like


Oh that uniform. I didn’t mind it so much, to tell you the truth. There were so many different pieces that the fashionable permutations were truly endless. We had the gray pleated skirt, gray skort, corduroy pants, khaki shorts, navy blue shorts, blue and white oxford polos which came in long or short sleeves, a white polo with our “IH” insignia on the left side, navy blue v-neck and crewneck pullovers, cardigans, vests and sweathshirts. The shoes of choice were penny loafers, black and white saddle shoes or navy blue canvas keds. What uniform? Haha…
We pranced all over the place for 4 years dressed in that garb by Sue Mills, Inc. We walked around campus, went to the library to do research, to Thrifty’s or Baskin Robbins across Franklin Avenue, to the mall, to Taco Bell, Carl’s, Jr or Mcdonald’s (where, believe it or not, Rochelle was hit up by some gangsters), to visit boys’ schools to deliver candy grams. Between 1992-1996, you name it, we probably wore our uniform doing it.
There’s always that combination of uniform pieces, though, that Riann refers to as your “cute outfit.” That’s the combo you wear if you’re meeting up with boys after school. Hahaha! Geez how lame but so true. Mine was the gray skirt, white oxford polo, v-neck pull-over and saddle shoes combination. It, for some reason, epitomized the schoolgirl uniform for me. I felt most presentable in that uniform, whereas, wearing my insignia polo, shorts and keds was a more casual, chill outfit.
Oh, us private Catholic schoolgirls. What can I say except that having to wear uniforms in high school but being able to put different combos together was kind of like getting handed lemons to make lemonade. You roll with it.
Riann would be really happy to know that all I’ve wanted to listen to since the reunion is John Mayer’s “No Such Thing.” How appropo is this song! I was waiting for this "I love Johnny" freak to run through the hallways singing these words nice and loudly, with feeling, but, sadly I was disappointed. Of all the times to sing a moment-appropriate song, Miss Riann, you missed it! I did really want to run through those hallways though. I felt like a ghost walking past those classrooms and lockers, to be so removed for so long and then suddenly pulled back into it, way past my allotted time. But it was worth the time travel, I have to say.

No Such Thing
John Mayer

“welcome to the real world"
she said to me condescendingly
"take a seat, take your life
plot it out in black and white"
well I never lived the dreams of the prom kings
and the drama queens
I'd like to think the best of me
is still hiding up my sleeve

they love to tell you "stay inside the lines"
but something's better on the other side

I want to run through the halls of my high school
I want to scream at the top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
just a lie you've got to rise above

so the good boys and girls take the so-called right track
faded white hats grabbing credits, maybe transfers
they read all the books but they can't find the answers
all of our parents, they're getting older
I wonder if they've wished for anything better
while in their memories, tiny tragedies

they love to tell you "stay inside the lines"
but something's better on the other side

I want to run through the halls of my high school
I want to scream at the top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
just a lie you've got to rise above

I am invincible
I am invincible
I am invincible
as long as I'm alive

I want to run through the halls of my high school
I want to scream at the top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
just a lie you've got to rise above
I just can't wait for my ten year reunion
I'm gonna bust down the double door
sand when I stand on these tables before you
you will know what all this time was for

5 comments:

Yo! Tambien said...

Whoa! I remember that first picture you have on top. someone who i sat next to at murphy had that same picture on his binder. i can't remember who though.

memories!

ANNA said...

no way kuya g, are you kidding! i don't know if any of MY friends over there had that. hahaha!

Anonymous said...

I like your uniforms! I only had two high school uniforms -- the regular brown one and the gala uniform (all-white, usually wore when there's Mass). It's great how you could mix and match your clothes!

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