{I Knew It}

There are certain eras which speak deeply to my soul. As though I could easily have lived during that time. And most definitely as though I could easily have worn the clothes of that time. Because I tend to forget about the wars and hardships that surrounded the era and instead focus on the superficial. The hats. The gloves. The hair.

Sad, but true.

When I first saw The Music Man as a child, I didn't know what era was represented. But I did know that I sure did like them clothes. When I first saw Meet Me in St. Louis I thought the same thing. Them clothes! I soon detected a pattern. Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, Anne of Avonlea . . . .

(Don't even get me started on Downton Abbey.)

Them clothes!

I eventually figured out that it's the first two decades of the twentieth century that has me in such a swoon. This era speaks to me and I know that I would feel perfectly at home in an Edwardian gown (corset included, I'm afraid.)

So you can imagine my delight when I discovered that I actually did live at that time. It all makes sense now. While visiting my mother-in-law's childhood church in Montana last month, the kids brought my attention to a picture of an early Sunday School class. "Mom! She looks just like you!"

I thought, "Oh, how quaint. I'll try to act as though I see the resemblance." And then I actually saw the picture.

It was startling. We all crowded around and agreed. There I was, seated in the first row of chairs, third from the right. I'm poised and ready for the picture while keeping a watchful eye on my mischievous children in front. (Yes, there are two boys and two girls, just as it should be.)

Now I know why my sister and I spent hours making up costumes from this era and reenacting as many book and movie scenes as we could. We are Gibson girls, through and through. Minus the big hair.

Although now that I think about it, the big hair is pretty great, too. I just might have to pull out the ol' dress-up box and attempt a bit of coiffing to go along with it.

Because that would be extremely practical for one who spends her afternoons doing the laundry and making dinner for her family. Don't you laugh. I'm sure that's exactly what my Sunday School doppelganger is thinking about. She's got a roast in the oven and it's gettin' overdone.