Friday, October 24, 2008

Unexpected Emotions


Every once in a while I find myself in Deseret Industries.  Occasionally I browse the books. (I once bought a hard bound copy of Alex Haley's Roots for a dollar!) Sometimes I find a sweet record.  Like  Carole King's Tapestry album and the Mary Poppins' Soundtrack in the same trip.  That was a good day.  

The other day I was browsing the belts.  The belts are right next the racks of shoes.  Slouched leather and worn soles, lined up on the shelves like soldiers, ready to go one more round.  No belts catch my eye.  I turn around and see a rack full of wedding dresses.  I was surprised.  These were beautiful dresses.  Of course some of them were outdated, maybe worn back in 1985. But they were so exquisite.  I don't know why it caught me off guard.  I've been to enough D.I.'s to know that all kinds of things turn up at thrift stores.  And why not wedding dresses?  

I took a closer look at the dresses.  Intricate beads and sequin details.  Some had long lacy sleeves with hand sewn beads all around the bodice.  Others had layers and layers of silk and satin material bunched up at the bottom of the plastic sleeve that  held the dress on the rack.  These dresses were once picked out with excitement.  The details were once fawned over and shared with girlfriends and grandmothers.  "Oh, look at those sleeves!"  "What a beautiful back!  You are going to look so beautiful tomorrow..."  


So, what happened?  How and why did these dresses end up at a thrift store?  To me, my wedding dress means a wonderful day to me.  The day I committed myself to one person, forever.  I plan on keeping my dress, the same way I plan on keeping my vows.  I want to cherish my dress and maybe someday give it to a daughter or maybe even a granddaughter who will be into vintage clothing.  What happened to make these dresses unwanted?  Was someone unfaithful?  Were hearts broken before they got a chance to be worn?  Were vows broken after they were worn? An excited new bride turned jilted lover?  Or did "till death do us part" come too soon?  Did that dress tucked away in the cedar chest become a painful reminder of a future that never came to pass?  

All these thoughts ran through my head and I became, well emotional, for lack of a better word.  I know I am a little over dramatic sometimes.  My imagination tends to run on the wild side.  Who sits in a thrift store and thinks of tragic scenarios to how items ended up there?  But these dresses were just so...forgotten.  I mean beautiful.  I can't quite put my finger on what struck me enough to bring real moisture to my eyes.   They  just looked so out of place next to the used belts and worn shoes.



5 comments:

michael. mindy. dane. said...

wow! I want to cry just reading about it. It's so true!

The Colbys... written by Erin said...

Ok, so this would be a wonderful play or film! I can just see it. Girl goes into thrift shop, feels bad for the dresses and fascinated by the stories the dresses were dying to tell, buys them all. Then we see a few stories of how these dresses came to end up there, all of which are tragic, of course. Maybe there is a return to the thrift shop to where some deserving bride, though low on budget but SO IN LOVE, decides to give the poor dress a second try... and well... happy ending for both the new bride and the dress! What a lovely picture you just painted in my head! Get on writing the script ok? Send it to me and I'll cast myself and you, of course. Then we'll be big stars on Broadway... which is perfect because you are moving out here next year!! right??!! Luv ya!

kara said...

Love it Erin! I'll add it to my list of screenplay ideas! See you at Sundance...

Hamblin Family said...

I have often thought of the same kind of thing. I go to DI a lot to find picture frames. When there is a frame with the picture still in it I feel the same way...what happened to these people why didn't they want to keep this picture. It really is sad to think about sometimes!

angie said...

hi kara! glad you found my blog! i think you have too much time on your hands. ;) when i go to goodwill i usually have 4 kids i'm dragging along so i get in and out as fast as possible. i wouldn't have given those dresses a second thought if i had even noticed them in the first place!! enjoy the freedom while you have it! and if you made that story a movie it would be the best million dollar idea ever! it would make very good chick flick!