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I played the piano when I was young, though through no fault of my own. My uncle and aunt, both unmarried, shared a huge old house on the posh side of the city and were happy to take advantage of my parents' foster a child for the weekend scheme. Thus each week from the time I was 6 or 7, I would travel across the city to stay with them for two nights.
On a higher rung of the social ladder than ourselves, they believed every young lady should be accomplished in at least one musical instrument and I was sent to study piano under Madame Foxe. My uncle, an extremely pious man and well in with the Dublin nuns community, bought an old piano for me from the local convent.
How we got the piano into our high-rise flat I no longer recall but when we relocated, it was thrown off the 4th floor balcony to its death. By then my uncle had upped and married the office manageress, had a child, and like the piano, I was dropped. My dreams of a career with the National Philharmonic, dashed!
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When I was around 10, we moved to a house some 30km away and I started in a new school. Standing in front of the class on my first day, in the best bib and tucker my mother could produce on her trusty sewing machine while three sheets to the wind, the teacher introduced me to the class. 'Deeerdeee' he intoned, prompting one of the boys to call out 'weirdy' and deirdyweirdy was born, a nickname that followed me right to the end of my tortuous secondary school experience.
I was a quiet, studious child fond of her own company and I was taunted, jeered, sometimes bashed and even had my ponytail snipped off on the school bus.
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By the time I was 16, I had embraced the deirdyweirdy moniker, bleached my hair white, painted my face with white clown makeup and took to dressing in a style peculiarly my own. This I felt allowed me to operate in an arena devoid of competition. It also subjected me to being followed by security whenever I entered a shop and even being told to leave, not to mention the consternation it caused in school.
I dated, but not much as most turned into longer-term relationships, and life is short. On the first encounter with one of my longer-term partners, he asked me if I’d ever considered a makeover. Another, when we were about 5 years together, kept hinting he had something special he wanted to give me on my birthday. I thought it was an engagement ring. It turned out to be a leather handbag. We broke up shortly afterwards. An Indian gentleman I stepped out with for a short while, whose name was Prem but was referred to as Sperm by my father, stalked me for months after we broke up and another of my beaus used the cash in our joint account to furnish a love nest for himself and his fancy-woman and then left me.
I’m old(er) now, in my 60s, and I must say in many ways I’m glad. There’s a certain freedom in invisibility and believe me, at around 49 you become more or less unseen. Gone are any thoughts I once had of plastic surgery or enhancements and I no longer take the time to count my wrinkles.
As to financial security, I’m waiting for my crypto to moon as I was never a believer in pensions and under no circumstances would I take anything from the state. I’m pretty self-sufficient here though so I don’t worry. It’s been my experience that things have a way of working out …even if it's not always the way you planned. And one thing I now know for certain is that it's not me who's weird, it's all the rest of you!
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Posted in response to @galenkp's Weekend Experiences prompt asking 'How were your high school years? Do you play a musical instrument? Bad dates and good dates...Have you had either or both? and Are you worried about growing older from a looks and financial security perspective?
Photos are my own
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What a great post, truly. There's so much to unpack, the between the lines stuff but unfortunately that'll never happen so publicaly on here. I'm glad to see some open and honest words and someone who's happy to share real stories though. Shows personality.
I played piano too, from the age of four and a half...and I was rather bullied in school also, an outcast, although for different reasons (I'm brownish)...I guess I'm saying we had similar experiences.
Anyway, I'll be back to vote on this when my VP increases a little and sent it to curangel. Thanks for taking the time.
What a fine comment to wake up to! You're very kind, but I think I've said that before. Thank you for taking the time.
You're brownish? I imagine that just about beats ears that stick out at right angles from your head and a parent drunk in charge of a sewing machine. But sure didn't we both turn out just fine.... if just a tad pixilated:)
We did indeed, bloody gorgeous, the both of us!
Thanks for your nice remarks and, as always, I appreciate you participating in the weekend-engagement concept.
haha I loved reading this! I learned a lot more about you, and a pressing question - that of your account name - has been answered. But of course I have more questions: do you ever play the piano now, or have an urge to? What happened to the spinster aunt when your uncle booted you out; was she booted out too? Did you ever get better at choosing men? I remember you've written about at least one other before today, who I believe went on to be a good friend.
I never had a man do me wrong like you had, I don't think. I remember one dude who invited me to a concert and to dinner beforehand, which turned out to be prepared foraged puffball at his place for dinner, and I paid my own way into the concert.
I have found that things work out too, as long as you don't get in your own way trying to keep things the way they are.
No, I never touched a piano from that day to this, though I did play the guitar in a punk band.
My aunt Maud got booted upstairs away from her beloved garden and eventually ended up in a care home...very long story.
No, I never became any better at choosing men and after the last one, I gave up. I'm the forgiving type though and I'm still in touch with Mr. Leather Handbag and Mr. Makeover and if I tell you Mr. Thieving Robber became a solicitor, you won't be surprised. I met him on the street about 8 years ago when I returned to Dublin and ran up to embrace him, my arms wide open, but he scuttled off down the street like the coward he is. I couldn't believe it.
So the worst treatment you've ever experienced at the hands of a man is going Dutch and a home-cooked meal...Bravo! Now you know how to choose them!
It's funny how I completely blocked all memory of the last bloke I was seriously involved with, a relationship that sure brought out my worst. We don't need to get into that, but I have been rather lucky, if you don't count the 27 year long bad marriage. That was a mutual mistake though. I can't blame it all on my hubby, he was just trying to get through a bad marriage too. I sure will never marry again. I like being alone far too much for that slave system.
Writing on all prompts with such a nice gentle and funny flow is only something your could do 😂😂😂
!PIMP
Oh, I know!:) My writing talents are exceeded only by my perspicacity...and thanks for the reblog.
You must be killin' it out here!
@seki1 just slapped you with 1.000 PIMP, @deirdyweirdy.
You earned 1.000 PIMP for the strong hand.
They're getting a workout and slapped 1/1 possible people today.
Read about some PIMP Shit or Look for the PIMP District
Agreed. You're pretty cool. I dunno if it's weird or no, but you're special in all the best ways, so screw it, right?
I'm waiting for the bloody thing to moon too.
And yes, things have a way of working out, even if not apparent at first.
Thank you, I enjoyed reading this longer foray into your thoughts ;) Have a great week!
Thanks Hon. I reckon you're pretty cool, especially for your age;) I wish I'd had my head as well screwed on so young.
I agree.
Of course you do. Sure aren't you the biggest nutter of them all!:)
You've lived a fascinating life.💞
Your story touches me on so many levels and it's always a pleasure to read you.
Have a great week ahead:)))
Your own life is pretty exciting Milly. I'm following your narrowboat adventures with admiration.
Cheers for the visit.
😊🤗Thank you!
I'm glad to read you and you didn't write a boring entry on such boring questions. Like you I like being invisible most of all and being called chaotic and crazy gives me even more freedom, wrinkles? Why should one count them? Handbags just like soap are a good reason to end a relationship and your father his choice of nicknames is as bad as my father's was.
I do feel for the piano.
Cheers to freedom!
❤️🍀
Ah Kitty, sure you're a girl after my own heart. My father was only half as amusing as he believed himself to be, but he did give me one solid piece of advice; 'whatever you do, don't be a bore', and I've spent my life clowning around ever since.
You do tell your story very well. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and getting to know you more.
I can relate to the bullying, I had problems with pronunciation as a young child, which I got teased about and pushed about for. Then there was the way I dressed and the music I liked and listened to. Kids can be really cruel.
I've always had the worst luck with partners, but then again I did attract them to me.
Also now I know where your name came from. xxxx
I think the bullying stood me in good stead for all the shit that life subsequently threw my way. I became bulletproof. Nothing could pierce my armour. You seem like a pretty tough cookie yourself! Perhaps everything does happen for a reason.
I think you are the only other person I have heard say that! Yes!! Yes!! It is a gift long overdue--one I craved ever since I reached puberty 😂
This is a wonderful blog. Bits of it I have read before--the deirdyweirdy piece, for example. The piano is a nice addition to your bio. 😇 The string of beaus is interesting also--another reflection of your adventurous nature. I guess it takes a colorful background to create a person who writes such riveting blogs 😁
A great read, as always, @deirdyweirdy
I know, I know, I've got to stop repeating myself. I bank on nobody actually reading my scribblings!:)
I'm delighted to be riveting, though I really don't have an adventurous nature. I like peace and order, but trouble loves me.
Invisibility is the only positive thing about ageing. It's quite amazing! You can get away with all sorts.
Thanks for the lovely comment. Knowing you're keeping track of me will at least stop me telling any fibs:)
I think I am a little nicer, too :)
This made me giggle! What a beautiful post. xx💗😊
Just giggle? Not chortle, guffaw or roll on the floor laughing? Hmm, I must do better:)
Thanks for the sweet comment.
Hahaha, now I have @deirdyweirdy, you are so funny! definitely. 💗