Braces--as in the kind for your teeth

[teigyr]

Thank you all and no, I'm a realist. I know what people get worked up about and I battle against it. As a single woman (no matter what the age) there is stigma. When I met DH (or rather when I was fixed up), he was warned "oh, she has braces". He said he didn't care. I know a lot of people here (Mr. Silver included) are individuals who think beyond that. There are a lot of people who go beyond boundaries and roles but you still get your share of (sorry for the bash here) idiots. Braces test a lot -- in the beginning I felt a lot less feminine and as far as being elegant and stuff, forget it. I had been able to fake it enough before but when you get food stuck in braces, that's pretty much it.

Dunno. I've known a lot of people who have been so worked up over it that it's a "life is over until they're off" thing. I chose to live differently. I've always gone against tradition if tradition is bad and that is what I did here.

So no, I'm not hard on myself but thank you I'm totally goofy. Sometimes it's rewarded and sometimes I'm just a spaz but I'm ok with it.

And indysteel? It will go very ok. It goes by so fast and in the scheme of things it is so minor. The bad thing (I think it's karma) is I have a friend who obsesses over gaps. She obsessed and her debracing was delayed. I didn't obsess and it was delayed a wee bit but now I am half braced...I think it's cause I laughed at her obsession. Really. She and I both realize the fates are now laughing at me

[teigyr]

I've always sort of liked braces on adults. To me, they make a person seem a little bit more fun.

Teigyr-I love that wedding picture. You look great- braces and all- and your dress is soooo pretty!

Thanks! I like braces on adults too. It's also a very interesting bonding experience, you'd be amazed at the conversations I've had just about "oh...how long do yours have to be on?".

The dress is so funny! I am tall and therefore most things I found in magazines didn't look good on. We went to a shop (DH insisted on being my shopping partner) that allowed me to choose what I wanted to try on but also brought that dress stating it would be perfect. Go figure, it was! Is a lesson to allow experts to do what they do. Even DH, in the beginning, said it was bad but after it was on, that was it. It was purchased!

[indysteel]

Teigyr, I really appreciate your point of view and attitude. Granted, I don't think I'll know how I'll react to them until they're on, but I'm going to do my best to stay positive. I feel like I already have a bit of a stigma in a far less than perfect smile, so I have faith that it will be well worth it in the long run. My sense of self worth is based, at least on part, in taking good care of myself emotionally and physically. This is part of that and, from that standpoint, makes me feel good.