I keep forgetting to post this picture of the plant monster in the hallway along with its shadow. I really like it, being all dramatic and everything.
I got out of Lloyd today. Lily was off work (a rare event) and had let Ms. Magnolia June play hooky which is something I used to let my kids do sometimes. It started for me when Hank was little and had terrible tummy aches at school and always wanted to come home. I was a single mom in nursing school then and it wasn't easy to go and pick him up and I'd always talk to him about whether anything was worrying him or not and of course he'd tell me there wasn't but I'm sure he had lots of worries in that brilliant little brain of his that he didn't feel like he could share with me. Finally I came up with a plan- if he didn't go to the clinic for a certain amount of time, I would let him stay home from school for a day every month. And I did and he soon got better. Just knowing that he was going to have a day at home with mama helped, I think.
I don't know. I sometimes look back and wonder why my kids still love me. I made so many mistakes. It's easy to say well, I did the best I could, but did I? How do we know?
Don't ask me.
But that's not what I came here to talk about. I came here to talk about the fact that I went to lunch with Maggie and Lily, and Jessie met us too. Lily and Maggie had just gotten pedicures and manicures and Maggie was quite proud of her shiny golden toenails and fingernails. The girl wanted a hamburger and french fries so we went to Bumpas, the place where I always get the chopped ahi salad that is so good which is what I ordered again today. Jessie and Lily made me laugh so hard. They were the tonic I needed and Maggie made me feel honored when she said she wanted to sit with her Mer on one side of the booth and that her mother and Jessie could sit next to each other because they are sisters.
Here is the requisite photo.
Yes. I shamefully took part in a visit to the mall where I have not been in so many years I can't remember, just to get some blog fodder. Also to be with Jessie, of course.
Okay, not anything but perhaps the mall would be okay.
It was a hoot.
I sat down on the lovely bench and watched as Jessie tried on one bra after another with the help of the bra lady who is known, even on social media, as "Debralady". Her name is Deborah and everyone calls her the bra lady so...it makes sense. She was obviously quite comfortable with the process of bra-fitting and made it comfortable for everyone around her. Except for perhaps the trainee. I could not tell what was going on behind her face. I desperately wanted to take her picture but somehow could not manage to find the opportunity. She was thin as a rail and wore the palest make-up and had the longest false eyelashes you can imagine and she looked EXACTLY like a mannequin. Her face rarely registered an emotion and she probably spoke less than ten words the entire time.
I was fascinated.
Debralady was round and funny and talked a lot. She called breasts "girls" and referred to each bra as "she". As in, "How does she feel under your arm there?" Or, "Can you see how she supports you without pushing the girls up too far?"
Jessie entertained us all, trying out each bra by doing a little shaking of the girls to see how she (the bra) would work if she (Jessie) were dancing. I did not raise a shy girl.
She finally found one she liked pretty okay and was in a rush to buy it and get out of there because she had to pick up Levon to take him to a piano lesson. I actually stayed behind and walked around the clothing sections for awhile and do you know what? I enjoyed it. It was so nice looking at lovely clothes, velvets and corduroys, cottons, linens, and other fabrics unidentifiable without reading the label. I even found this...
Dillards has always had lovely purses.
Oh dear. I discovered that they now carry one of my favorite brands of leather goods, Bedstu. Oh holy shit. My heart beat even faster but for a very different reason.
Oh god.
Maybe not. I don't even like Starbucks' coffee.
glad you had lunch with your *girls*.....and just the photo of that Mall is enough to send me to claustrophobia...... surprised you didn't buy that lovely purse/bag.....but we all know you have too many already LOL! Love the *Debralady*.......ugh. Since *retiring* 8 yrs ago.....I no longer wear a bra..... if I were dressing up for a fancy wedding maybe (like every 5 yrs) but otherwise....nope....been there, did it for too long....and the smallish girls are happy being uncontained! TMI? so be it!
ReplyDeleteSusan M
Discussion of bosoms is always appropriate here at Bless Our Hearts. Well, almost always.
Delete$260 for that purse/bag! Wow! 😮
ReplyDeleteMary, any day you can venture out and not panic is a good day for you! I can succeed at that occasionally, myself!
I think 🤔 you did have a good day!
Marcia in Colorado
I really did, Marcia. Thank you.
DeleteA scene you would have enjoyed, despite no mention of "girls":
ReplyDeleteTwo elderly lady friends-- ample and droopy-- dressing in the women's pool locker room after their weekly aqua class. They take turns standing behind each other for each to fasten her friend's bra. One says to the other, as she's about to fasten the clasp: "Everybody in?"
HahahahahahahahaHA!
DeleteI can see how that was an achievement, so maybe don't undercut it? I can't tolerate malls for more than a few minutes because of the hum. I'm told the sound relates to surveillance equipment, anyway it's close to intolerable for me.
ReplyDeleteI think for me it's so much sensory information coming in at once. The colors, the muzak, the glittery stuff. And the people. And the overwhelming amount of things. The sound situation may not help.
DeleteActually, I can remember the last time I went to a mall. It is a sadly dying mall (may already be repurposed by now). I went with Laura for her to have another ear piercing and I went to have my ears re-pierced (hadn't worn earrings for twenty years). We went in by a funny back door and straight to the piercing kiosk, then gone. Out of there. Looked nothing like your mall.
ReplyDeleteWell, this used to be a glorious mall but not anymore. I think half the stores are closed now. One of the biggest has announced their leaving.
DeleteDid you and Laura go to Claire's? I've had piercings done there.
Oh YES, that bag is also my dream bag!! It looks to be the perfect thing....Damn the mall!! Our mall is vacant and even when it did have shops in it they were end of the line shops- Dump it in Bellingham sort of deal.
ReplyDeleteA day with the girls and the "girls" is best medicine ever! Maggie is still adorable!
I do not understand structured purses. To me, those are pocketbooks. I love the bag!
DeleteBellingham doesn't strike me as a mall sort of town. Tallahassee definitely used to be. At one time we had three!
Maggie...oh, that girl.
37paddington: this post make me remember that some of my favorite shopping outings were with my girl and my niece bra shopping because they both needed specially fitted bras, even my skinny, ibitty niece, they both got their grandma’s endowment even though she was an itty bitty thing too. Jessie’s unshy shimmy brought it all back. And the bra lady’s talk of “the girls.” My two used to do the dance test too. Ah fond memories. And I’m impressed that you braved that mall for us! Well, really for Jessie but still. 😉
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, yes! Bra shopping with your babies is great fun! I'm glad you've had that experience too!
DeleteI Love that first Image, your Front Doors are Ahhhhmazing... I have a Passion for Doors of Historic Homes and have Salvaged many Architectural Salvage pieces so that even tho' the Home no longer exists, it's fabulous parts still do.
ReplyDeleteThat's a fine thing to do, Ms. Bohemian.
DeleteI like that monstrous plant shadow on your amazing front doors. I like that you pushed yourself a bit and did something different. One question: why on earth would you go to a Starbucks?
ReplyDeleteAnyways, life is for living and today you lived your life. Good for you.
When that Starbucks first came to the mall, there were no others in town and we thought we'd finally become real hotsy-totsy. I was so vastly disappointed.
DeleteLife IS for living but our definitions of what that may mean can vary!
I can imagine your heart pounding, good for you for pushing the envelope as the saying goes. I am glad you enjoyed your lunch and it isn't hard to see why your kids and theirs love you.
ReplyDeleteWell...I do usually pay for lunch so there is that!
DeleteOh, that bag! It's so beautiful. I do love leather that looks like it has been used a lot but still has many years left. I think you should have bought the t-shirt.
ReplyDeleteThe monster plant shadow is excellent, it looks like two shadow fingers are reaching for the doorknob and the lock.
I had a bag by that company and used it for years until the fastener went out on me. The leather-repair guy said he couldn't fix it. But I'm sure the leather will last forever. I could put a new one in my will! Good reason to get one, right?
DeleteYes- Monster Plant wants OUT!
I bought almost the exact same bag (on the model) for €30 at Pisa in Italy. Long way to go for a bag I guess but it really is lovely!
ReplyDeleteOh, you should have bought it!
DeleteThat DOES deserve an award. Great going. But I would have bought that backpack bag, just because. Debralady is a perfect name. But I can't imagine having that as a job nor being the one being fitted. Does Dillard's have jockstrap fitters?
ReplyDeleteOkay, I've been laughing all day long at your last sentence? Dillard's does not have a jockstrap fitter as far as I know. There could be one back there in the men's department somewhere, I guess!
DeleteSounds like your time with Lily, Maggie and Jessie have helped lift you out of your funk. Good to hear, Mary! xx
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Laughing is the best tonic, as I said.
DeleteI don't know why anybody drinks Starbucks coffee. it is terrible. but good for you for browsing. I don't mind looking at clothes in a store as long as I'm not trying to find something I need. sounds like a good day out, lunch with the girls and I don't mean 'those' girls but the real human ones.
ReplyDeleteStarbucks makes their coffee taste like that so you have to add all that other stuff to make it palatable at which point you might as well have a milk shake.
DeleteWell, the girls always bring their girls so there is that.
You had fun at the Mall and your story about Debra working with Jessie and the trainee is hilarious. Debra is quite a character and Jessie seems all about having a good time. Great combination.
ReplyDeleteDebralady obviously has found her calling. Jessie is always about having a good time. She spreads joy wherever she goes.
DeleteFabulous shadows & light in your top photo!
ReplyDeleteThe bra adventure sounds pretty funny. I haven't been to a mall in ages. It's bewildering to me why malls are drying up pretty much all over the USA. I mean, I know there's Internet commerce now, but new stores are still being built -- just not in malls. I don't get it. I guess people don't want to walk from their car and then past lots of other shops to get wherever they're going, but most of us could use the extra walk!
Anyway, congrats on conquering the mall! Woo hoo!