Rachel Weeping
I bought the dress for a first date.
Tea-length, navy blue, and decorated in white, beige, and coral polka dots, it’s A-line design accentuated my curves and gave me just enough of a pop to stand apart from the crowd at Neighbors, the Murphy Road bar where I first met Michael for a few drinks, a long conversation, and an even longer goodnight kiss.
The polka dots worked, at least for a little while.
Michael was smart, handsome, and financially responsible. And though he was within reach of paying off his mortgage before turning 40, he did not own hand soap or, from what I observed, a broom. He did, however, play guitar. That helped me overlook the unswept floors, as did his ownership of the Comic Book Bible. The latter also invited me to browse his home library. That was and remains standard practice in my dating game: show me yours, and I’ll show you mine.
His was a lot of Shakespeare:
Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,
Men were deceivers ever,
One foot in the sea and one on shore,
To one thing constant never:
~Much Ado About Nothing (2.3.64-67)
Just over 400 years later, writers from my musical library drew from one of Sir William’s most well-known comedies to remind us that even with centuries of practice, grown-up love can still be a challenge:
Sigh no more, no more
One foot in sea, one on shore
My heart was never pure
You know me
You know me
~Mumford & Sons, “Sigh No More”
Deceiver? Sometimes.
Never pure? I choose to believe Michael was pure, at least for a little while, and especially during the second and only other vivid memory I have of wearing that polka dot dress. Continue reading “#56: Gallatin Pike/BRT Lite”
Kitty Eveling 