By Erika
My idea of dressing up had always been comfi, faded jeans and t-shirt since I was a very young child. My mother's idea, on the other hand, was fluffy dresses, adorned with lots of lace, and huge bows in my hair. Gosh, I hated those bows! I remember the day when this picture was taken in the photographer's studio.
I felt miserable, and it shows in the picture. No matter what my mom promised or even threatened to take away, I refused to smile.
Mom didn't give up to have a perfect picture taken of me dressed in her favorite outfit, so when we got home, she made me pose under the acacia tree that was filled with flowers. Unnoticed by her because she was busy setting the camera, I inched my way closer and closer to the tree branches.
To my great satisfaction, the hated bow got caught and tangled in the branch and when I yanked my head, the sharp thorns ripped the silk bow to shreds.
One glance at mom's angry eyebrows told me I was in big trouble, so I started running toward the front porch to reach the safety of my dad's embrace that always saved me from my mother's wrath. But in my haste, I stepped into the dog's water bowl, skidded, and fell into the muddy flower bed that dad just finished watering. My fluffy dress was ruined but the pitiful look on my face must have softened mom's anger because she quietly put the camera away and never again forced me to wear the enormous bows and fluffy dresses.
By Rick
Here I sit, all alone on our faded cream sofa.
My feet are hanging over one of the dark wooden arms, as my hand grasps the tumbler ever tighter.
The half-empty bottle on the coffee table speaks volumes, as my eyes shed droplets like the whiskey tears running down the outside of the glass.
Was it only last week that she packed her bags and left, clearing out the bank account on her way to meet her new lover?
Someone I knew so very, very well; my mate and my best friend.
I really, really . . . miss him.
"I wonder what's closer. The moon, or China."
"The moon."
"How do you know?"
"Duh! I can see the moon!"
Picture credit: the author's own photos, and created by the author using purchased Adobe or Fotolia photos
COMMENTS
Posts
Very funny. Your article reminded me of my organza dresses.
ReplyDeleteYour mom was big on pretty dresses too? It is amazing how easily a child could be influenced to love or hate things.
ReplyDeleteI never made my daughter wear an organza dress or something that she did not like
DeleteMe neither! I remembered too vividly what it felt like when I was forced to wear clothes I didn't like.
DeleteThese are too funny! Funny dresses? In a way, I can related. My Mom dressed me some outfits, stylish at the time for little boys, that now look like something some weird rich kid in those old, Our Gang/Little Rascals comedies of the 1930s would have worn. Stories, jokes, funny pictures and comments, and a hilarious video? This is great!
ReplyDeleteThanks Joe! I thought it would be nice to take a day off from serious posting about books and writing and have a fun day. Today is like a dress-down day for the blog.
DeleteThat bow and dress traumatized me as a kid, probably that's why my favorite outfit remained faded jeans and t-shirts :)
ROFL! Great post!
ReplyDeleteLaugh is the best medicine ;)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLove this, made me smile. My Mum tried to force me into jeans rather than dresses (which I loved). I hated having school pictures taken and would usually be found staring at the floor or sulking in a group pic.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we were switched at birth Stella. You would've make my mom's dream come through having a daughter who loved dresses :)
DeleteMy mom too made me clothes she took patterns out of a sewing magazines called Burda. To her defense, back in the day you couldn't find jeans and such in stores. Many people would buy them at the smugglers. It was a big business to smuggle jeans in from Italy. After the borders were opened and trade resumed, you could find anything and everything in stores.
ReplyDeleteLove watching funny cats videos.
All in all it's great to break away from the everyday posts and be goofy for a day.
I agree. When we do serious work such as writing, we need a break once in a while to have some fun :)
DeleteGreat story, Erika! My Mom used to dress me into pretty dresses when I was younger, too, and I absolutely hated it as well. I don't own a single dress now.
ReplyDeleteLOL, I have one evening gown that I wear once or twice a year when I really must. My favorite outfit remained jeans and t-shirt, but I wear slacks and simple blouses when I need to "dress up" :)
Delete