Talk about body image....

[Rachel Bray]

This past Friday I took half a day off to spend time with a 
friend of mine from my hometown that was up here for a 
week.  We hooked up with some other friends of ours (we all 
met as camp counselors at a Girl Scout camp 12 years ago) 
and "did" the Short North, an area known for it's art 
galleries, awesome restaurants, wicca shops, coffee houses 
and.....sex/fetish stores.

:-)

Anyway, we went into this one store that was full of 
leather, bondage, etc. things and, though slightly 
embarrassed, I started browsing through the racks.  
SO...after about ten minutes I came across this black full 
length skirt (slightly see-through, full skirt).  I kept 
going back to it and just...admiring it.  The store clerk 
finally came over, took it off the rack and said "Come 
on...you're trying it on."  I was trying to object but he 
pulled me back to the changing room, shoved me in and shut 
the door behind me.  So I tried it on.  I was stunned.  It 
was gorgeous!  And so.....not like me!  He knocked on the 
door and asked how it was so I peeked out and all my 
friends had gathered around the door, waiting.  He pulled 
me out (now remember....this is a see-through skirt) and 
put me in front of the three way mirror.

Everyone was speechless.  It was GORGEOUS. Now given, I'd 
probably sew a layer of black....ANYTHING underneath it 
since it was see-through but I've never in my life felt so 
feminine.  I'm 5'9 1/2"  and the clerk said it was perfect 
for me since everyone else who ever bought it had to have 
it shortened.  

Then....this guy walked in, walked by the mirrors, stopped 
short and stared at me, wide eyed.  He then said "I know I 
don't know you....but you're gorgeous in that!"  

I have never in my life felt so incredible.  After my 
husband left four years ago, I've really let myself go, 
image-wise.  I don't dress up anymore and I rarely remember 
to do my roots on time, I wear sloppy clothes and I rarely 
wear make-up.....it was such a boost to my ego.  Everyone 
commented later that night that it was fun to see that 
spark of what I used to be show up that evening.  I was 
walking on air.

I didn't buy the skirt, though.  It was WAAAAY out of my 
budget for this month.  But I'll love that thing until the 
day I die.  :-)  I would have NEVER thought something like 
that would have looked so good on someone who looks like 
me.  

Anyway, I'm rambling....hope everyone had a great weekend 
(especially you fellow Americans who were lucky enough to 
have yesterday off, too.)

Rachel Bray
The Ohio State University
Fees, Deposits and Disbursements

"Could have been edited by a crack-addicted ferret with
ADD who just downed a half dozen Pixie Stix."
                       - review of Moulin Rouge