Thursday, February 22, 2018

Sitting Pretty




Why is it so easy to give a friend or family member a compliment and so hard to give ourselves the same kindness?  I know I am not the only one who does this.  I have heard so many women talk about what they hate about themselves when they look in the mirror.  Noses and muffin tops and wrinkles.  Sometimes I talk to myself in the mirror, and it is usually not nice things.  This isn't new for me.  I have struggled with this, and I know other women do, too.





The thing is Sam tells me I am pretty about 10 times a day.  I think he first told me back when we were 15 years old and falling in love.  For as long as I can remember, he has called me his "Pretty Lady."  Of course, I love that he tells me that.  But do I really believe him?  Rarely.  This does bother Sam sometimes and over the years we have talked about this insecurity of mine now and then.  He gets frustrated.




So there's a story here somewhere.  Sam has really made the move toward semi-retirement.  Hooray!  He will probably always keep his hand in the business, but he is very excited about traveling more, and he has started to volunteer his time at a cool science/history museum here where we live. 


I love seeing him take the time to do things that make him so happy.  He has been going to the museum several mornings a week for over a month now.  Although he is thoroughly enjoying himself, he has mentioned that people don't seem to be all that friendly.  I assured him that once he has been there for a little longer, folks would get to know him better and that would resolve.




Then this last week there was a Brown Bag Lunch Lecture being given by a retired scientist for the volunteers.  Sam asked if I could attend, and that was fine.  We picked up some Subway sandwiches on the way and found the classroom at the museum.  Sam introduced me to several people before we found a table.  The volunteer supervisor welcomed me warmly. 




The lecture was fascinating, and the presenter was well prepared and a good speaker, too.  After the man finished, Sam gave me a grand tour of the facilities.  We were both familiar with the museum already, but he took me to the back where the workshops and display preparation were located.  Then on to the administrative offices.  As we meandered through this maze of rooms with people working at their different tasks, Sam introduced me to everyone.  They were most welcoming and we chatted with many of them.




One of the men, who worked mostly on restoration of the science equipment, stopped and greeted us.  He shook both our hands and asked Sam to introduce me to him.  

"Jim, this is my wife, Ella," Sam said.

The man smiled at us, and questioned Sam, "This is your wife?"

"Yep, she's been my girl since we were both 15 years old."

"Well, Sam, I want to tell you that the day you met her, was your lucky day," Jim said.




I thought he was a really nice man, and we stopped at several more stations and talked to some other employees.  As we made our way through the last set of offices, one of the men I remembered from the lecture room came up and introduced himself to me.


"I'm the museum director here," he said, shaking my hand.  "We are so glad to have Sam coming to volunteer.  He's doing a wonderful job.  Thanks for coming to the lecture.  Please come next month.  They are usually quite good."


Sam went his way after this, and I had errands to do.  When he came home from work that night, we sat together over our evening beers.


  

"Well, you were surely popular today.  That is the most anyone has talked to me since I started there," Sam smiled.  "I am always so proud to have you with me anywhere we go.  You are so pretty and personable that people are just drawn to you."

"Oh, don't be silly, Sam.  People were just being polite," I said.

"It's true, Ella.  It happens everywhere we go," he continued as he started down the hallway to change into his comfy jeans.  I followed and was putting away some laundry as he took his shirt off.  Never like to miss an opportunity to rub my nose in the hair on his chest.  One of my favorite ways to say hello to my man.  I love his scent.  He pulled me close.




"God, you are such a pretty lady," and Sam's hands rested on my bottom.  "Hmmm...it's been a while since we've had a 'just because' spanking.  I love your pretty ass all pink."  

And with that he unbuttoned my jeans and pulled me across one knee as he sat on the edge of the bed.  

"Damn, Ella, I am not kidding you, you know.  You are beautiful," he said as he spanked.  Very - spank - Very - spank - Very - spank - pretty.




"And you are very, very full of it, mister," I protested.

"What?  Are you disagreeing with me?  This is not a good position to be in if you are going to argue with me.  Who's the boss?" and the spanks got a little faster and a little harder.

"You are!  You are!" I laughed.  "Ow, Sam!"

"Then say it, Ells.  Say, 'I am pretty' for me," Sam insisted.

"No, you know I am not going to say that," I answered.

Well, that was the wrong thing to say, and Sam's hand began to work over my bottom like there was no tomorrow.

"Say it, Ells," he repeated.

"I can't, honey."

"Say it," he demanded, and the spanking cranked up again.

"Say it for me," Sam laughed.

"Ok!  Ok!  I'm pretty," I finally gave in.  

"Again, louder this time," he said, and his hand never paused.

"I am pretty!  Damn you, I am pretty!"





Sam's hand rubbed my sore bottom softly, and said, "See, that wasn't that hard, was it?"  He pulled me up to sit on his lap a minute before we walked back to enjoy our happy hour together.  But when my very warm bottom hit the dining room chair, I could not help but think that Sam had had his way.  No matter what I thought of myself in the mirror, he had me "sitting pretty." 




    

33 comments:

  1. Gotta love that Sam and you are pretty.

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    1. I certainly do love that Sam. It really was MY lucky day when we first met.

      Hugs From Ella

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  2. Loved this Ella, :) I'm with Sunny, you are pretty indeed! That Sam is a lucky fella!

    How fun that Sam is enjoying some time at a museum that he loves. That's a cool thing to do. Neat that you can go with him to the lectures, and that you got a "backstage tour".

    Sounds like a mighty fine gg, with a bit of mighty fine food for thought too.

    SO love reading about all of the love that goes on at your place! Awesome! Sit Pretty, Pretty Lady! Many hugs and love,

    <3 Katie xoxo

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    1. He is loving his time there. We visited again on President's Day to see a temporary exhibit that Sam helped to prepare. It was fun to play with the interactive items on display.

      Sam's "just because" spankings are really gg ones, but I have insisted they have a different name. Don't want to be mixed up with our 2 good girl dogs.

      Ella Sitting Pretty

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  3. Ella,

    I know for a fact, real and true, that you are gorgeous. Beautiful is in the doing, the loving, the caring and that is you to a tee. Beautiful is in being educated. Speaking and writing well, that is you as well. We are often self-doubting about our appearances as the years take their toil. We help one another with make-up ideas and pray the magic potions are working. However, we need to remember that beauty is as beauty does. It is in our actions that we are beautiful. That makes you gorgeous, Ella. I have seen your beauty in action with my own eyes.
    Meredith

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    1. Mere,
      I think I need to print this off and hang it up somewhere, so I start to think of myself in just this way. "It is in our actions that we are beautiful," is an especially powerful message. That says it all. I really will try to remember this every day. Thanks so much for the insight.

      Hugs From Ella

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  4. Beautiful. If only we could see ourselves as our loves see us. <3

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    1. How true, Lea. It is easy for me to see Sam in that way, but so much harder to see myself in a good light. Thanks for visiting today. I love to get to know new folks.

      Ella

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  5. Wow, Ella! ... what a timely post ...

    First off I have to say I am very happy for you both that Sam has decided to semi retire and has stepped into doing something he loves. You will see your man transform, if you're not seeing it already.

    I have struggled always with my looks ... I have never seen myself as pretty. In my minds eye, I can be 'striking' if I am dressing up to go out but other than that I only see my flaws, of which the list only grows longer as I age. My Frank on the other hand thinks I am very good looking and tells me that a lot. He also tells me he loves my shape (I pack a few extra pounds but not too many) and lately he's been telling me he loves how soft my aging skin is.

    .... you know what I think? ... I think our men are buying their glasses at the same store ... the store for men in love ... ♡ ♡

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    1. Nora Jean,
      You are right. He does seem to be enjoying life so much more. It is a very cool museum, too. New things to see all the time.

      Yes, I understand you completely. I think your Frank is another sweet husband. I just loved what you said about buying their glasses at the same place! There is another post there for sure. They must hand out rose colored glasses when you fall in love.

      Hugs From Ella

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  6. I love NormaJean's comment, that last line. As I was reading I was nodding...that scene has happened here...getting spanked til I said the words, I am sexy, I am not fat and ugly...and continuing until he thought I meant it. They may see us thru rose colored glasses...but that is a pretty wonderful thing...
    hugs abby

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    1. Me, too, Abby. NJ had a great idea. So I am not the only one. :) Your M wears those same glasses. Love is a pretty wonderful thing...really the most important gift you ever receive.

      Promise that I will try to do better when I look in the mirror.

      Ella

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  7. Hi Ella, oh how sweet he is, and yes you are pretty.
    love Jan, xx

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    1. Thanks, Jan. He is a very sweet guy. As we both get older, I try to tell myself to enjoy every single day we have together. I know you take good care of your special guy, too.

      Hugs Across the Pond,
      Ella

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  8. I love this. The Duke has been making sure I don't say bad things about myself. He hasn't gotten to this point, but I see it coming. I love how Sam thinks you are beautiful and wants to make sure you can see it too. :) :) That is a good man. :)

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    1. Welcome to you, EsMay. Really love to make new friends on my blog. Your Duke sounds like a good man, too. Saying bad things to yourself is so destructive. Maybe we need to get a rose-colored mirror.

      Ella

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  9. You’re out voted on this one, Ella, you are a pretty lady - lovely inside and out.
    Rosie xx

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    1. Ha! You made me laugh, Rosie. I will tell you one thing that I really am good at....surrounding myself with good people. True blue friends who laugh and enjoy life. Like you, Rosie Girl.

      Hugs Across the Pond,
      Ella

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  10. You have a sweetie for sure! Not only is he sweet, he is correct. You know he might have seemed kinder and more approachable because you were with him. I'm betting he'll see the people as more friendly in the future.

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    1. You actually might be right, PK. Sam can appear a bit brusque before you get to know him. Then he relaxes and smiles a lot more.

      Thanks, my friend. You usually have so much wisdom to share.

      Ella

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  11. Hello there pretty lady :) What a sweet post...and what a sweetie Sam is. This made me smile :)

    Your trip to the museum sounds wonderful. How great that Sam is able to spend more time doing something he enjoys.

    Hugs
    Roz

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    1. Glad you smiled, Roz. I know he meant well even though there was a spanking involved! His name for those spankings are "Just Because I Love You." That's pretty sweet, for sure.

      Sending Hugs Down Under,
      Ella

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  12. You have a wonderful man there in your Sam, Ella. You are a pretty lady so believe everyone above and your man. What a fun time you had at the museum and after.
    Hugs Lindy xx

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    1. Thanks, Lindy,
      I will try to do better. I remember you and I talking about this very subject one time. Need to think of Sam's wonderful words every morning.

      Sending Hugs Down Under,
      Ella

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  13. Ella, you have such a great guy. I am sorry, you can't say you're not pretty as a few of us have met you. You are a lovely, sweet and caring lady. As Rosie said, pretty inside and out.

    Love and hugs,
    Ronnie
    xx


    Love,
    Ronnie
    xx

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    1. You are so sweet, Ronnie. Lots of good advice here today. I must take it to heart and do better. Wasn't there a line from a movie that went, "Beauty comes from within?"

      I always felt that way with the kids I knew at school. Must remember to make them smile each and every day.

      Hugs Across the Pond,
      Ella

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  14. what a lovely post. as for being pretty? I'm sure he would know better!!

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    1. Glad you liked this post. Sometimes it is so hard to be honest when I write about personal things. That was the best advice I had when I started to blog. "Keep it honest." Would even make a good name for a blog!

      Sam does know me best!

      Hugs From Ella

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  15. This is a great story, Ella. I'm like you. I don't see it but Eric says it all the time. As a matter of fact, after our first date, he left an index card on my windshield that said "YASP" and that's been his nickname for me for year. "You are so pretty". Lately, Eric has been working with me on saying "thank you" to a compliment as opposed to dismissing it away, which is a habit of mine. "You are so pretty" should be followed with "thank you" rather than, "Oh no, no I'm not". It's a steadfast rule in our house now and I see his point. By denying what someone sees as good in us, we are truly hurting ourselves - that subconscious is listening. Keep sitting pretty!
    Amy

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    1. Oh, Amy! Just love the YASP. What a clever guy you have. I need to try your advice. Just say "thank you."
      Good rule to have. Since Sam usually reads my blog, he just may see this himself.

      Take Good Care of Yourself,
      Ella

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  16. I find it very easy to see, having never met you, that there is great beauty behind these words that you so eloquently write. Don’t discount yourself, your guy is right on the money here. Embrace your beauty!

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    1. That is a truly lovely compliment, Laurel. I love to write and try to make each post special in some way. If you can see the beauty in my writing, then I feel very thankful. Thanks so much for your comments. You see things with a simple clarity that is much appreciated.

      Hugs From Ella

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  17. Not only are you pretty...you are beautiful inside and out. I am glad that your man gives you the reassurance you need. We all need to be kinder to ourselves. I, too, have struggled with body image - it has taken me a long time to believe my husband when he tells me I am pretty...I believe I shared a poem about it once I wrote called "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall" The older I get the more confident...and hopefully someday the image in the mirror will reflect the beauty the people who love me sees in me. Big hugs to you

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