It had been an uninteresting dark and gloomy Monday, that last day of November. The front yard was being dug up by the people putting in my gas line, my beloved but unwell Maple tree had been cut down to nothing leaving a suburban, barren feel to everything. I received an unexpected visit from one of my favourite people, the UPS man. So much love and hope in a dull brown uniform. He looked like Eddie Murphy and went nuts when I went nuts- never apparently having been received with such excitement. I knew it had to be a gift but what and from whom?
The package was little more than that of a large envelope-so it had to be something little. I hoped the sender would not be announcing that I had to wait until Christmas to open it. The curiousity would kill me
I opened the card first- good manners even when you are alone. It was from my Aunt. “You must wear this every wonderful moment in December-you will look fabulous in it” With clear permission, I opened the envelope and out slinked a small black Calvin Klein evening dress, with it all the promise of magic.
For two days I enjoyed the possibility of what it might look like on me without trying it on. Some fantasy lies before reality. There was a very good chance it would be far sexier on its own without me.
Finally, when I was feeling pretty and deserving, I pulled it on. I chose to find it marvelous on me. Suddenly, the ability for an Aunt in Vancouver, while on vacation in Florida, to see a dress for me, that would fit me, fit the envelope and that I would love, was delightful.
MORE ON DRESSES (not to be confused with Moron dresses or Mormon dresses)
The saying goes ‘you can never have enough little black dresses. Actually, you can never have enough dresses, period. Dresses are the most amazing stand- alones in the world.They require extreme bravery and an ability to not take your imperfections too seriously. It is the only peice of clothing never to cross over to masculinity (we’ve all seen men in plaid skirts-no undies- more on that later-or just moron,that). It is an announcement that you love being a girl and that you love yourself as you are. There is nothing to hide behind in a dress. If a suit is for power, a dress is for vulnerability. And, for me, to be vulnerable is ultimately powerful.
In looking for the right dress, it has never mattered to me where I would wear it. If I love the dress I will wear it to pump gas, to take mouths to the orthodontist, pull weeds from the garden(shorts on underneath!), teach art class to the littles, put mail in the mailbox , blog alone with my computer. Dresses hang pleading for you to buy them, sensible folk chanting “but where will you wear it?” This is a ridiculous question. You will wear it anywhere and everywhere. You must because you love it, it loves you and you love life. You wear a dress to flirt with life. You wear a dress because to be a girl is a wonderful thing. When people say “why are you so dressed up?” I say “because it is a big day.” And then I make it so.
I get up put on a dress and watch where it takes me.
enough about dresses-read about jackets-green ones-in Flying Solo’s latest entry
