As someone with an outgoing, boisterous personality, it is
challenging to maintain a façade of proper poise, kindness, good-natured
awesomeness. Words used to describe my childhood idiosyncrasies included
“bossy”, “precocious”, and a great “goody two-shoe”. This last one I find
ironic, especially when there is an extreme amount of pent up anger,
frustration, sadness, and confusion inside this bitter berry. The meaning of “goody two-shoes”, according to my friends at
Phrases.org, is “someone who is virtuous in a coy, smug or sentimental manner.”
Phrase.org continues to explain that this phrase derives “from the title of the
nursery tale The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes, which was published in
1765.
“The story itself is a re-telling of the Cinderella story, which
itself is an example of the Christian teaching that diligence reaps its reward
in Heaven - what later came to be called 'jam tomorrow'.
“'Goody Two-Shoes' is the name given to a poor orphan - Margery
Meanwell. She is so poor as to possess only one shoe and is so delighted when
given a pair of shoes by a rich gentleman that she keeps repeating that she has
'two shoes': "She ran out to Mrs. Smith as soon as they were put on, and
stroking down her ragged Apron thus, cried out, 'Two Shoes, Mame, see two
Shoes'. And so she behaved to all the People she met, and by that Means
obtained the Name of 'Goody Two-Shoes, By virtue of hard work she makes good
and marries a wealthy widower - thus mimicking the Cinderella theme of virtue
being finally rewarded.”
If Drew is a wealthy widower, then I missed something before
walking down the aisle. That aside, I never realized how this phrase really
does do a good job of describing the true Greta, at least in my crazy brain.
I’ve always tried to be virtuous with my family, friends, at work, in school.
Mission: Leave an ever-lasting great impression. Make my parents proud. Be all that
I can be! Perseverance is the way to live life! Yes, yes… never give up! And
those various actions can in fact be taken as bossy, coy or smug. So far, this
phrase suits me well.
Before biting into a berry, there is eager anticipation of
tasting its juicy sweetness. How sorely saddened we become when it is sour or
tart and spit it out. One of my fears in life has always been what people will
think of me if I say X versus Y, or believe apples versus oranges and then
share that opinion and am faced with disagreement and judgment. This in fact
has molded me into one of the world’s worst debaters. It has also led me to
hold back in many circumstances. As I stated earlier, this can only get you so
far in life.
Inspired by two very independent, intelligent, amazing,
strong-willed women (Brenda E. and Ann S.), I have decided to take a plunge
into being judged. Yes – here it is, my new blog (Get Over Greta). Sharing my thoughts, ideas,
and opinions should not be taken as self-serving or spiteful. My intent is to
share, learn, observe, and grow as a person through self-discovery. Hopefully I
will be brave enough to share more personal topics, thoughts and opinions on
life in general. To do this, the façade of sweetness will no longer be masked.
Sweet on the outside, dark and sinister on the inside, MacBeth’s Inverness
Castle has nothing on me. Well, actually it probably does. I’ll try not to hurt
anyone’s feelings. I don’t think I’m an evil person…. Or maybe… (Insert evil,
heartless laughter sound effect here).
The side that only Drew really knows and OH SO LOVES, that
30-something wife, mom-to-be who is a proud sister, daughter, dreamer,
career-driven, sarcastic cynic, secular humanist, angry independent centrist
living the American dream in the melting mud pot of Missouri, is going to start
sharing with you. Etiquette and manners will persist to be present. Please use
logic and reason if you choose to engage.
