Hairpins were such a huge part of the feminine mystique to me as a child. They held a ballerina's hair, could open a locked door, and flew out of Witch Hazel's hair on Looney Toons when she took flight. They were magical! When I did finally manage to make my hands master these tiny things, and use them in a way that couldn't even be seen, I felt like I had womanhood all figured out. To this day I hoard them, and this pile contains pins from my childhood to my wedding. Even when I have short hair, I always feel like everything can be managed as long as I have bobby pins in my bag.
-Jessie