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Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life
AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader
Dear Reader,
It was a life lesson and it all started with a skirt.
I'd been wearing a cotton skirt for four years. Wearing it frequently, because it was my favorite. But the other day after I put it on and looked in the mirror, I realized the skirt was way too long, too loose around the waist, and it made me look old and frumpy.
"Old and frumpy." It's the kiss of death statement. When I'm shopping with my husband and I ask him how a skirt looks on me, if he replies, "Well, it kind of makes you look old and frumpy." Say no more, immediately the skirt goes back on the rack.
But this was my favorite skirt, the one I'd been walking around in the for past four years. The skirt I'd been wearing to the market, the doctor, to have lunch with friends, and now I looked like a frumpy old lady in the mirror? Why didn't I notice this before? I don't know, but suddenly I was inspired to fix the skirt--immediately--so I could wear it that day and redeem myself.
Since I'm not a seamstress, I didn't really know what I was doing, so I thought about "cheating." Simply turning in the waistband on one side of the skirt (there was a zipper on the other side), so then I wouldn't have to take the skirt apart, and adjust the entire side, including the lining.
But I was feeling adventurous...what's inside?
I had no idea, but I grabbed a seam ripper and before I could analyze the situation too much, and let fear take over (that I'd never be able to figure out how to get this skirt back together again), I cautiously started pulling out the original threads. One hour and 45 minutes later I was amazed! I'd fixed the loose waistband, cut the extra material off the bottom of the skirt and stitched the hem on my machine. When I tried on the skirt and looked in the mirror--I looked fabulous! Why hadn't I fixed this skirt years ago?
People alter skirts every day, it's really not that big of a deal. But for me, it was one of those proud accomplishments in life. I was smiling, and for the rest of the day I felt like a little kid who just learned how to ride a bike. "Look at me! Look at me!" Every person I saw (even strangers, if I could work it into the conversation) I proudly announced, "Look at this skirt. It was too big around the waist and too long, and I fixed it this morning, in one hour and 45 minutes. It's the first time I've ever altered my own skirt."
"What's inside?" When I'm in the midst of a messy situation in life, sometimes I fear that if I dig around and open up a flood gate of feelings, will I ever be able to put things back together again?
You betcha ya, no fear, because I'm finally comfortable in my own skirt.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
www.muffinsandmayhem.com
AUTHORBUZZ: RECONSTRUCTING EVE (Fiction) by Lisa Hilleren
Eve Merritt sets out to transforms herself after learning the hard way that her years of selfless devotion didn't guarantee her a happily-ever-after. But family and friends don't want her to change. Does she have what it takes to overcome their resistance and make good on her vow to have her apple and her Eden, too?
Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on RECONSTRUCTING EVE to read more and to email author Lisa Hilleren, you'll get a reply.
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