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Loud and About Column by Heija Nunn

Checking the weather forecast is not part of my daily routine. I know what to expect.

Just like my default plan for Seattle weather –layers, layers, layers – my own personal outlook has a default setting that is consistent, predictable and for the most part, safely reliable for the people I encounter each day.

This hasn’t always been the case. I cringe when I think back to my early days working at Nordstrom. My daily prep included too much makeup, a fashion forward costume and a sourpuss look on my face – because I thought it would help make me look mature and serious and not 18 years old. I wasn’t fooling anyone and I looked ridiculous.

Each day I passed a man, who was either homeless or stuck in a loitering rut in the alley between my apartment and the bus stop. I ignored him as I stomped by in my high heels, pursed lips and pale pink wool Calvin Klein overcoat. But despite my best efforts to suffocate him with clouds of Avon’s Imari perfume, he still managed to make consistent fun of my Miss Serious face. He tried his best to turn my frown upside down; “Smile, baby!” “Ah honey, what’s wrong?” “It’s a beautiful day, be happy!” “Just smile! It’ll be okay!”

He was relentless. And he was totally right. I finally stopped fighting my personal atmospheric tendencies and allowed myself to smile and answer “peachy’ or “d-e-lightful” when someone asked how I was.

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