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Rosemary Harris | What's Your Secret Love?
November 19, 2013
It was love. Once. Or lust. An inexplicable pull. A deep, visceral attraction. I'm talking about the item that hangs in your closet. Unworn. Or sits on a
shelf, the tags still on. Once, you stood in a dressing room thinking Oh
yeah! And now it resides, forlorn, behind the safe clothing, the outfits you
can put on in your sleep. Are they mistakes or glimpses into a rarely acknowledged side of yourself? By a
certain age, we know what we'll feel and look good in. But once in a while,
something different calls to us. Like the ankle strap, skyscraper Michael Kors heels, deeply discounted at my
favorite off-price store. They sat untouched and unloved side by side with the
cowboy boots, and Merrell's I usually wore. Who had I been channeling when I
said yes to them? For what fictional black tie event? I had unearthed them during one of my periodic closet purges. As I always did
during the de-cluttering process, I gave the shoes one last chance. Oh my. Not only was I taller, I instinctively stood up straighter and sucked my
stomach in. My hips looked slimmer. No wonder I'd bought them. But could I wear
them out of the house without stumbling, fumbling and falling flat on my face? If the shoes were going to skip the trip to Goodwill, they'd have to pass the
acid test. My husband and I had a big date night coming up. I calculated steps
from curb to cab, cab to restaurant and restaurant to theatre. For much of the
evening I could cling to hubby's arm. It would seem loving and affectionate, not
needy and off-balance. I tiptoed around barefoot until the last possible moment. "Wow," he said. "You look great." My hair was the same. Old dress. It had to be
the shoes. The evening was going well. I can do this, I thought. Why haven't I
worn these before? We drank champagne. And then, after two glasses of bubbly
I had to make a journey on which my husband could not accompany me. Across a
stretch of slick, glass-like tile to the ladies room. Moving slowly was key. I shortened my stride and looked around the restaurant as
if casually taking in the ambience and not marking time until I reached the
safety of the ladies room wall. And then it happened. An attractive man looked
up. He smiled. Not a smile that said "poor woman, she must have had an
accident." A smile of appreciation. I don't know if it showed in my eyes but I
silently thanked him - and fantasized about the never-worn red dress. What's the item in your closet that still has the tags on? Rosemary Harris is
the author of the Anthony and Agatha-nominated PUSHING UP DAISIES and
three other titles in the Dirty Business mystery
series. Her latest book is THE BITCHES OF BROOKLYN,
the story of four childhood friends, now in their thirties, who receive a
cryptic note from a fifth that forces them to re-evaluate their friendships,
their marriages and their memories. Fast, funny and filled with Harris'
trademark humor and snappy dialogue it is available on Amazon, BN.com and
iTunes. Three commenters will win easy-to-wear Bitches of Brooklyn tank tops.
Comments
23 comments posted.
Re: Rosemary Harris | What's Your Secret Love?
Unfortunately, we lost our house a few years ago, after my Husband lost his job. It's a long story, but we lost most of our belongings in the process. One of the few items I was able to pack away in our pop-up camper without my Husband knowing was a pair of shoes with the tags still on, and never worn. They're a fuscia-pink pair of wedges, on the Oriental theme, which is the best way to describe them. I had no idea when we left for parts unknown, where we were going to end up, and now that we live in the country, up where it's cold, it's not exactly the best area to wear them, although I could wear them inside the house. They're so cute, and I still love them as much as the day I bought them. I just need a clean area to be able to wear them. There's too much dust and dirt around here to wear them outside!! I loved your blog today, and am looking forward to reading your book!!
(Peggy Roberson 7:03am November 19, 2013)
I have a fab dress that I got about 2 years ago but don't have the shoes to match. The tags are still on it. Time to go shoe shopping (which I hate).
(Pam Howell 8:35am November 19, 2013)
Oh, yes! I do have some clothes with tags still on them. When I happen to see them in the closet I wonder what I was thinking when I bought them!!
(Vennie Martinisi 11:22am November 19, 2013)
A profound metaphorical question. For me, most of the roles
I've been asked to assume, not as jobs, but as identity. I'm
not into being a stereotype.
(Mary Ann Dimand 12:38pm November 19, 2013)
I have a coffee colored suede look shirt that I absolutely had
to have. I admire it still but just haven't felt the right
occasion to wear it. Of course, I am mostly at work and it
wouldn't do there. Someday....
(G. Bisbjerg 12:55pm November 19, 2013)
I would like to read this book.
(Tina Lechuga 1:09pm November 19, 2013)
We were renting a house in Maine on the ocean and I wanted to do some shelling. I had bought a pretty pair of rubber boots, floral and very stylish and not inexpensive! The first day there, I was ready for action and headed down the rocks. POW. I slipped and fell and barely made it up to the house. For the rest of the stay, these boots greeted you at the front door and now they are in a box on a high shelf. So much for my athletic side. Love your books.
Happy Holidays.
(Patricia (Pat) Pascale 1:45pm November 19, 2013)
All of my stuff is in storage since we moved to TX last year. Living in a 22
foot motor home with no closets.
(Michelle Schafer 2:23pm November 19, 2013)
A 5 inch wide belt---what I ever thought I'd wear it with, I'll never know.
(Sue Farrell 3:31pm November 19, 2013)
Boots! At the and of last winter, they were 75% off....& who could resist Minnetonka black suede boots & Bareskin boots for a song...literally! Better than shopping at Goodwill, which, of course, I ADORE!
(Susan Coster 5:01pm November 19, 2013)
I always wear everything that I buy. I do have some high heels that still have tags on them. My husband thought that it was a great idea to "spoil" me by buying them for me. After all, what girl doesn't love shoes? Well...I'm one of those who doesn't love shoes so seven years later and they're still sitting in their boxes with the tags still on.
(Alyn Yang 5:18pm November 19, 2013)
A couple of pairs of jeans that I was given, but need to lose weight to wear.
(Lisa Guertin 6:43pm November 19, 2013)
Nothing in my closet with tags still on it. I don't buy it unless I am going to wear it.
(Barbara Wells 6:45pm November 19, 2013)
I'm guilty! I went shopping and found some very cute shoes that I was so in love with that I bought to identical pairs. One pair still sits in the box after several years and have never seen the light of day simply because, I never wore the other pair much--even tho I thought I'd wear them out and wished I had another pair. I've also bought clothes like prettty sweaters that I've yet to wear with tags attached which I ordered from a shopping channel on TV. I will definitely have to break them out now that it's cold.
(Linda Luinstra 7:14pm November 19, 2013)
My dress I'm going to fit into one day when I lose weight
(Chris Lewis 8:05pm November 19, 2013)
My Coach bag that is so pretty I am afraid to use it. Lol.
(Vicki Hancock 8:31pm November 19, 2013)
A jeans skirt, waiting for the perfect occasion.
(Cindy Rader 9:30pm November 19, 2013)
I have a dress that is too small. I wont to fit into. Thanks for a chance to win your book.
(Linda Hall 11:44pm November 19, 2013)
some shirts that I did like
(Patricia Lambert 9:46am November 20, 2013)
A velvet dress that I am trying to lose weight to fit.
(Kai Wong 11:23pm November 20, 2013)
Nothing with tags on in my closet.
(Mary Preston 8:41pm November 21, 2013)
I have a skirt that is the size I'd like to be and haven't
gotten down into that region yet. It's canvas but is a dark
turquoise color with buttons down the front. I'm hoping to
get into it this coming year and have put a few things in
place to accomplish this aim including eating healthy more
often, portion control, food diary and walking more while
wearing a pedometer.
(Alyson Widen 3:12pm November 22, 2013)
Hi ladies,
I left for Hawaii just as this post was going live and unfortunately I had limited internet access on Kauai. Vennie Martinisi, Linda Luinstra and Susan Coster you are all winners! Please send your address to me at rovideo at aol dot com and you will receive your prizes.
PS While I was there I resisted the urge to buy anything I won't really wear!
(Rosemary Harris 3:41am November 29, 2013)
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