No Ill Will.

voltee ♦ October 12, 2010 ♦ 3 Comments

Item: Blouse (?) Color/Fabric: Beige, rayon/spandex jersey Designer: Ella Moss Where Purchased: Anthropologie Years Owned: Two
Tonight might be a little brief. I’m not feeling so great. I think the let-down coming off of such a glorious weekend is just too much for my poor little tummy.
So this got me thinking about other times I’ve been ill. I realize this isn’t the best choice for creative inspiration, but it’s all I can do at the moment. That’s what you are getting.
It was around this time last year when we were doing Pippin that I had the worst illness I can ever remember having. Nate and I argue about this a great deal- I am sure that I had the Swine Flu. He is sure that I didn’t. But, conveniently, he was out of the country for the epidemic and missed the entire awful thing. So what does he know, anyway?
It really doesn’t matter what the sickness was called; the point is that it sucked. Hardcore.
We only had two weekends of Pippin, and the first weekend I had to have an emergency root canal. On the first night of the second weekend, I was on stage and gradually felt like my skin was catching on fire. By the end of the performance, I was laying on the dressing room floor because it was cool, and could not move a muscle.
My Lizzie took care of me, drove me home, and even turned around and drove back after I had left my cell phone in the car. And she checked in on me, since I had no husband to look after me.
By Sunday about half of the cast, or maybe more, were terribly ill. Yet somehow we rallied, and gave all that we had for those last shows.
I wore this blouse to the cast party, which was at my house, with a short sleeved blazer and a wide belt. The blazer is necessary, because the the fit isn’t exactly right on this piece. And that is more than likely my fault, since I ordered it two sizes too large. But it was the only size they had left, and I really like Ella Moss clothing; it’s just so soft and comfy. Plus, ruffles are a fun way to add volume to one’s bosom. I really wanted it. I thought that I could just, well, you know, cinch it.
It’s almost a success with a belt and a blazer. But my fever decided to come back that day, and I was roasting. So eventually I had to take off the balzer, and here’s what it looks like from the side:

Those are some gigantic armholes! But at least I felt really comfortable. Well, except for the whole fever and body ache and sore throat thing…
The party ended up being a wonderful time, even with some cast members home sick, and others present, yet feeling like crap. Annie’s mom made tons and tons of delicious food, which was such a blessing to me since my personal chef was in India. I ate leftovers for at least two weeks!
And it was nice to close the show on a high note. Pippin was a very hard show for me. I was just an emotional land mine during that time, and it put too much unnecessary strain on one of my closest friendships. The cast party was sort of a closure, and a confirmation that my friendship was going to survive. But the true ones always do!
The sickness just wouldn’t leave. I remember still feeling sick when it was almost Thanksgiving. Or maybe I just remember it that way as an excuse for my epic failure then. Anyway, it was a horrible flu of some sort that stuck and stuck, and I hope that it never comes back!
I’m not sure what I should do with this blouse. If it was just a little longer, it would be a super cute dress! But, alas, it is not to be.

**This is going.  It had a temporary home with my friend Annie, but it didn’t fit her properly.  Who wants to try next??