An Afternoon in Paris

What a classic afternoon, what a great way to spend the day! It was gruesome, ghoulish, dark and dismal, rainy. And I was sitting and knitting, frowning.

My friend Kara came by for no other reason than to say hello. Don’t you love that? Old friends popping by to say, “Hi?” So, in she steps wearing the most amazing jacket. Kara has a particular style that is just so very her. She finds the most amazing clothes from all over the world….all in thrift stores.

I asked, “Where in the world did you find this?”

“A thrift store in Paris. No label.” There is always a little grin when she says that, or even when I hear it. Some artists work a piece without the pressure of couture….they do it for the experience. Who knows who made this gorgeous thing, but gorgeous it is and I was in awe.

It was a bit like tapestry, like the French version of that scene in “Gone With the Wind,” when Scarlet has her curtains turned into a dress. FANTASTIC! Some artist took what looks like a piece of carpet and turned it into the most stunning coat.

But, that wasn’t all….

“I also found this hat,” she said, “….that would fit a Gregory.”

I laughed. “Fit a Gregory?”

“Well, I know you have the tiniest pea sized head and thought this might fit you.” She grinned, handing it to me.

I’ll be damned, it did fit. And it felt….swank. Away with the ballcap for a minute and try this on. You may laugh, but I felt handsome. I giggled as I saw myself in the mirror. I felt handsome….again. The older you get the less attractive you tend to feel….or at least I do. And for one afternoon with a hat on, found in a thrift store in Paris, I felt striking.

You know I’m agoraphobic, so I don’t go out much, or at all. There is no reason to look fashionable, no reason to doll myself up and present myself, as one would say. But, when I put that hat on, things changed when I saw myself in the mirror. I’m much better looking than I think I am. You can call out my flaws, and I’m fully aware of them, but…it was so nice to reconcile with myself in the mirror and appreciate what I saw.

Kara said, “It looks good on you. You may not wear it every day, but when you do, you’ll look great.”

Then after that it was the common sort of afternoon you would expect. Two old friends in Orlando eating French bread with butter and lettuce, a few sips of wine, while Edith Piaf sings in the background…wearing vintage clothes from a thrift store in Paris.

I truly do have a great life 🙂