A Series Of Fortunate Events

voltee ♦ September 11, 2010 ♦ 3 Comments

Item:  Tee-shirt   Color/Fabric:  Beige, cotton   Designer: Max Jeans   Where Purchased:  BCBG in Woodbury Common   Years Owned: 5

This is a relic from my very first trip to Woodbury Common.  In case you’ve never been there, if sort of like the Shopper’s Disney Land.  There are many tourists, overpriced snacks, no where to park, and sometimes even lines to get into stores.  One of the major differences is that instead of spoiled little children running around, there are more spoiled little doggies being carried around.  It’s fun, though, if you have lots of time to waste away wandering around and you like to look at pretty things you’ll probably never own.  There are some stores, such as Dior, that I am only comfortable peering into from a distance.

I felt a little star-struck on my first visit.  It was hard even to decide where to start.  So I just want to some stores that felt a little familiar, and not too exclusive.  Of course, the hubby was with me, and he is extremely patient for a few hours of shopping.  And then, in an instant, the patience suddenly just evaporates, and he has to leave.  Now.  Like the store is on fire and he’s suffocating.  It drives him crazy that I need to sort through every item on a rack of clothing.  “You don’t need to touch every piece.  You can just look at it and tell automatically if you’ll like something!”  he says.  But that is far from the truth, especially in an outlet mall.  You never know what hidden treasure you’ll find smooshed between two items.

Like this tee, for example.  Believe it or not, it was I think the most expensive tee-shirt I had ever seen until then.  The original price was $120 or something, and of course I bought it for less then $10.  I think I just wanted to see what a tee-shirt that cost over $100 would feel like.  It really didn’t look like much to the eye, but I assumed that maybe it had some sort of magical properties that might look better once I wore it.

I guess that was the reason why I decided to wear it on a very pivotal day in my life- when I auditioned for Chicago.  I wore it with black yoga pants, and felt sort of sporty and hip on the outside.  Inside I was completely terrified.  I had not sung in public or done any sort of theater related activity for more than 7 years.  My friend Arek encouraged me to go, and gave me a shot of whiskey to calm me down a little.  I’m not sure that trick worked, but it got Nate to drive us to the theater, which was the only reason he auditioned at all.

The week before, we saw Into the Woods at the Center, and I was thoroughly impressed.  And then horrified when I saw many of the cast members also auditioning for Chicago.  I wanted to leave-I felt so out of place and unqualified.  But my companions wouldn’t let me, and we stayed for hours and hours and hours, until I nearly fainted from hunger.  At the very end, Arek decided not to finish the audition, and said he only went through it at all so that I would.  It was very sweet of him.  And fortunate.  Because now those very same people whose talent intimidated me are now some of my very best friends.  And I have a job that is usually fulfilling.  And a hobby that brings me heaping quantities of joy.

Maybe it was the shirt?

Yes, it is imbibed with good vibes and it’s boxy in a good way, like a Volvo, but let’s face it, it isn’t flattering at all.  Do I keep it for artistic merit?  

**I have decided to part with this…please, someone, give it a good home!