NaBloPoMo November 10th

Losing Weight

I finished high school in January because of credits I had picked up in summer school.

College was in September, and I worked full-time for my dad in the store.

One morning I got up and decided to go on a diet.  I lived on cantaloupe, veggies and lean meat for three months and lost just a little over as hundred pounds.  When you’re in your teens weight just melts off.

My father was worried that I was sick.  It was 1980 and anorexia was big.  I assured him over and over that I was not going to starve myself to death.

I remember the day I replaced my entire wardrobe.  Even my shoes were loose on me.  I had one pair of white carpenters pants left that I could wear with a tightly cinched belt.  My top practically hung to my knees. 

It was a hot summer day, and I wandered in to Boltons on the Upper East Side.

The saleslady was in her mid-fifties with ash blond hair piled high on her head.  She wore the perfect little black dress.  She looke dt me like I had just washed up on shore from a shipwreck.

“I’ve lost a little weight, and I need some new clothes.”

“No kidding kiddo.  What size were you?”

“22.  These pants are a 16.  I bought them about a month and a half ago.”

“I see.  You’re a 12 now.”

The room spun.  12?  Me an actual size twelve.  

We hit the racks.  I’ll never forget what it felt like to slide into size 12 Gloria Vanderbilt jeans.  I left the store with two loaded shopping bags.   Gloria Vanderbilt jeans, silk shirts, boyfriend shirts and black slacks.  To this day I believe you just can’t have too many pairs of good black slacks.

The show store was next.  Black heels, Bass loafers and a pair of turquoise leather Indian style mocassins.  I don’t know how I got it all home.

After I dropped off the first load it was down to Macy’s for all new lingerie, and then on to Screaming Mimi’s for some vintage.

While it was fun to buy new clothes and stuff, I did find there was a downside to losing weight.

First off all the backhanded compliments like my favorite you look so great now.  They made to emphasis was on the now, because I frightened small children and animals you know.

There was a lot of jealousy too.  I remember one of my best friends asking me, “Why are losing so much weight Frances.  Are you trying to compete with me or something?”

Another sighed with relief when I told her I was a twelve.  “Thank God I thought you were down to a 10 like me.”

My father, brother and uncle were all overweight, and we all worked in the store together.

Customers constantly asked them when they would follow my good example.

I told people not to compare my relatives to me, and they were angry at my ingratitude for their compliments.

After 25 years of marriage I’ve slowly put all the weight back on plus some.

Once again I am working on a diet.  For sure a 100 pounds won’t melt off in three months.

I’d just love to be under 200 at this point; 199 is a pretty attractive number to me right now.

Peace.