Probably. Like the pleasure of crawling into fresh sheets. Think how good it would feel?
In Santa Fe, NM, where one of my kids lived for a few years, they celebrate the burning of Zozobra, a 50' tall functioning marionette that is, frankly, terrifying. The point, I believe, is for participants to release the past year's worries and replace them with hope and renewal. Perhaps we find ways to stuff the wire frame with the relics of under garments from across the nation?
You made my day, all those things that had me dreading, now don't matter in the least. The rest of my day will be filled with laughter. I will never forget your friend or the classic husband and wife conversation. Thanks for this one.
I love this and needed it today! My 90-year-old mom, who's in the early stages of dementia and in assisted living, had a MAJOR meltdown last night about her Sleep Number bed being broken, and I'm having to try to deal with it from another town 30-60 min away. Didn't sleep well and am SO stressed. Then, this morning, a friend from Lebanon sent me videos of the destruction in Beirut, and I thought, wow, my problems sure are small. Yet, here they are, and I have to deal with them, and they're still stressing me out.
A couple years ago I did a series of three MDMA therapy sessions, and to my surprise, a theme emerged for me each time. The first one was grief: how I wasn't letting myself really feel the grief I had for my elderly parents, and of course also grief for the world. The second was compassion (and wondering how to feel it for certain people). And the third was humor: I was reminding myself how important it is to laugh.
On the topic of undies (thanks SO much for not saying "panties"!), mine were also recently starting to slip, so I bought a bunch of Natori "Bliss Girl Briefs" — so soft, and they fit so well! I could write a whole piece on how hard it is to find well-fitting bras, shoes, and, of course, undies.
Oh, Rosana, you are in such a difficult time with your mom. I remember similar scenes with both parents, and understand how hard it can be to find ways to feel useful and not just frustrated and powerless. Your MDMA sessions sound fascinating, and resulted in such clear information. I'm not sure they work that way for everyone. You must have been really open and ready to process some of that. And how terrific that laughter showed up as a theme. We've been known to pull up a comedian instead of a movie to watch when it feels like we just need that release. It really does help!
I'll be on the lookout for your Bliss Girls essay! Thanks so much for adding to the conversation here today. :)
I hope you did! And if you did, I hope you'll share his response. One fellow messaged me privately today to tell me he'd made the same mistake with a doily, so I'm betting there are many similar stories out there! Thanks for joining the fun here.
I once put my sexy undies in my boyfriend’s jacket pocket when I kissed him good night. Thought I was so provocative. When we broke up he mailed them back to me with insufficient postage so they are now the property of the USPS. This is a small scale example of the story of my life.
HAHAHA!! Eileen, you're the best! I wonder which USPS worker ended up with your dainties?! But really, I don't even know what to make of the guy mailing them back in the first place. Too funny.
Definitely started my day with a laugh! The Annie Mae story is priceless. I'm surely not the only one who wouldn't have know that was a bun warmer, lol. Nicely constructed to pull us along.
That makes me smile, Amy! I suppose I became familiar with basket liners like that early on, maybe because I grew up in the south where warm biscuits were a necessity. Annie Mae was a pistol. I'm glad to have found a way to tell part of her story and even more delighted that she brought you a bright moment.
" . . the kind of primal ache that emerges when your own stories get too close to tragedy. " That's the most beautiful phrase I've read today. Poignant on top of achey.
Hahahaha! You made me laugh right aloud! Thank you for this, it was just the honest and true laugh I needed after staying up past my bedtime last night watching the VP debate.
I find myself inhaling and exhaling deliberately a lot more than usual lately, but sometimes I think a "cleansing laugh" works even better. So glad to know you were giggling alongside me this morning, Natalie.
I'm sure there are commando advocates somewhere out there who don't have this problem. As I'm obviously not in that league, and can't trust myself to even be in the same stratosphere as anything considered flawless, I guess I need to set a calendar reminder to reup the unders a year from now. 😂
Oh how I love this! You put the first smile of the day on my face!
Should we be merely paying attention to the world's horrid woes instead of laughing at undies around someone's ankles? No. WWII and the Brits' and Aussies' and New Zealanders' abilities to laugh in the face of terror proves the point.
Keep on writing such wonderful tales, Elizabeth. They are picturesque and delightful.
On a side note - about 5 years ago I found a basic range of knickers at a store called Big W here (an offshoot of Woolworths) and they're my go-to's. If they stop making them, which we know they WILL do, I'll dissolve into tears. I may have to reach for the breadbasket liner!
Gah! Prue! Too fun thinking of you grinning along with me across the miles. I feel like laughter is universal in its ability to relieve stress. And I've long believed that some comedians are the smartest among us, including fellow entertainers, scientists, philosophers, politicians, and academicians. None of the others have anywhere close to the same ability to get diverse groups of people all paying attention and relating to each other, then receiving controversial content willingly. It's remarkable to watch it happen!
May your Big W bloomers never go out of production! 🍑
I hope the mystery item is indeed keeping your buns warm. BTW I’ll be visiting a friend soon who served in the Red Cross in Vietnam and Korea in the late 60’s and into the 70’s. She/they were an important means of support for the people who were stationed there. I’ve always been very respectful of her and that work.
Ha! Not a whole lot of warmth in these things, but they have other meaningful responsibilities. 😅 My work with the Red Cross was in Blood Services -- to recruit for, plan, and orchestrate blood drives. Essential work, but not nearly as demanding as Disaster Services or wartime aid. Enjoy your visit with your friend(s), and thanks for spending a little time here.
Ah, Elizabeth. It is so challenging, isn't it, to balance our tragedies with our joys? Your story made me smile, all the way through. I don't know if I'll think of your undies or Annie Mae the next time I am updating mine, but it could happen! Thank you for a respite from the harder news of the world. We all need places to rest these days.
Rest, yes, and opportunities to remember all sides of our humanity. It makes me smile to know that you were smiling, Rita. And hey, we never know where Annie Mae might turn up, right?
Elizabeth, I’m a new subscriber and loved your “drawers” post. Got the link to you from another Substack. I noticed you mentioned the mountains of N.C. Asheville, or what’s left of it is my hometown. I just left my Hendersonville home last November for an expat life down here in The Big Dig country. I’m of a certain age where there are many stories lodged in the folds of what gray matter remains in the cranium. If things ever settle down so that my inbox stops filling up with junk mail I fully intend on reading all of your past stories. From what I read today, they will help lighten my mood a lot. Between the destruction of my mountains and damn politics, it’s no wonder my gray hair is getting grayer.
Right this minute though, I’ve got to get off here, feed my lazy dog and fix my lunch. Just another day in the country. It’s nice to meet you and I’m looking forward to more engagement. I really do have a nice “drawers” tale.
Welcome, SPW! I'm honored and delighted that you've joined the flock here. I am so sorry for the devastation that has taken place in and around Asheville. I hope your connections there are safe. How are you enjoying life in your new environs? Quite a change!
I know what you mean about inbox junk. I made the smart decision sometime back to conduct most of my online transactions (purchases, etc) from a different email account. That helps a little. My trouble is that I get a lot of mail I really WANT to read but can't always keep up. First world problems, right? Whatever you get around to reading here, I hope you'll find it to your liking. I can't say I'm always as silly as this piece, but I do always look for a bit of light. Can't wait to hear your tale! 😅
Oh, this is SO FUNNY!!!!! And you've reminded me of something, with this line: "My own mother did the same once, but hers fell from a pocket where she’d inadvertently stashed them."
At a school parents' evening Mum felt she was about to sneeze, and pulled out of her pocket a clean but not-ironed hanky from her pocket for which to catch the sneeze. What she'd grabbed from the basket of clean laundry waiting to be sorted on her way out of the door wasn't a hanky at all, but a pair of white knickers! 🤣
That happened to me once: pulled out of my pocket what I thought was a handkerchief, and it was a pair of Y fronts. I was on the London tube at the time. Fortunately, everyone was too engrossed on their phones to notice.
Loved this, Elizabeth!! Brought a smile to my face multiple times. Especially the part about your “helpmate’s” intrigue with the basket liner. What a delight.
Oh, I'm so glad you enjoyed this one, Holly. When it happened, I told him it was going to find its way into Chicken Scratch. He protested a little, but not with sincerity. 😂
We are clothesline devotees! Nothing like a loofah-esque bath towel to liven up the day!
Undies should probably be burned en masse periodically and replaced with a fresh batch,
Probably. Like the pleasure of crawling into fresh sheets. Think how good it would feel?
In Santa Fe, NM, where one of my kids lived for a few years, they celebrate the burning of Zozobra, a 50' tall functioning marionette that is, frankly, terrifying. The point, I believe, is for participants to release the past year's worries and replace them with hope and renewal. Perhaps we find ways to stuff the wire frame with the relics of under garments from across the nation?
You made my day, all those things that had me dreading, now don't matter in the least. The rest of my day will be filled with laughter. I will never forget your friend or the classic husband and wife conversation. Thanks for this one.
Aw, Mary, I'm so glad! There is a lot to hold these days. It does feel good to laugh when we can.
I love this and needed it today! My 90-year-old mom, who's in the early stages of dementia and in assisted living, had a MAJOR meltdown last night about her Sleep Number bed being broken, and I'm having to try to deal with it from another town 30-60 min away. Didn't sleep well and am SO stressed. Then, this morning, a friend from Lebanon sent me videos of the destruction in Beirut, and I thought, wow, my problems sure are small. Yet, here they are, and I have to deal with them, and they're still stressing me out.
A couple years ago I did a series of three MDMA therapy sessions, and to my surprise, a theme emerged for me each time. The first one was grief: how I wasn't letting myself really feel the grief I had for my elderly parents, and of course also grief for the world. The second was compassion (and wondering how to feel it for certain people). And the third was humor: I was reminding myself how important it is to laugh.
On the topic of undies (thanks SO much for not saying "panties"!), mine were also recently starting to slip, so I bought a bunch of Natori "Bliss Girl Briefs" — so soft, and they fit so well! I could write a whole piece on how hard it is to find well-fitting bras, shoes, and, of course, undies.
Thanks for the laugh!
Oh, Rosana, you are in such a difficult time with your mom. I remember similar scenes with both parents, and understand how hard it can be to find ways to feel useful and not just frustrated and powerless. Your MDMA sessions sound fascinating, and resulted in such clear information. I'm not sure they work that way for everyone. You must have been really open and ready to process some of that. And how terrific that laughter showed up as a theme. We've been known to pull up a comedian instead of a movie to watch when it feels like we just need that release. It really does help!
I'll be on the lookout for your Bliss Girls essay! Thanks so much for adding to the conversation here today. :)
That was wonderful. Thank you for the smile I have on my face. I think I will tell this story to my hubs.
I hope you did! And if you did, I hope you'll share his response. One fellow messaged me privately today to tell me he'd made the same mistake with a doily, so I'm betting there are many similar stories out there! Thanks for joining the fun here.
He laughed and said, "It's a guy thing". Hahaha, men and their funny mind set. Always...there....hhhmmmm. (clearing my throat). We both loved it.
😂
I once put my sexy undies in my boyfriend’s jacket pocket when I kissed him good night. Thought I was so provocative. When we broke up he mailed them back to me with insufficient postage so they are now the property of the USPS. This is a small scale example of the story of my life.
HAHAHA!! Eileen, you're the best! I wonder which USPS worker ended up with your dainties?! But really, I don't even know what to make of the guy mailing them back in the first place. Too funny.
I know, right? I said “Dude, you should have had a moment of closure throwing those drawers in the trash 🗑️ “
🎯
Definitely started my day with a laugh! The Annie Mae story is priceless. I'm surely not the only one who wouldn't have know that was a bun warmer, lol. Nicely constructed to pull us along.
That makes me smile, Amy! I suppose I became familiar with basket liners like that early on, maybe because I grew up in the south where warm biscuits were a necessity. Annie Mae was a pistol. I'm glad to have found a way to tell part of her story and even more delighted that she brought you a bright moment.
" . . the kind of primal ache that emerges when your own stories get too close to tragedy. " That's the most beautiful phrase I've read today. Poignant on top of achey.
That one struck me too, so beautifully written!
Aw, Mary. I appreciate you saying so. Being human can be pretty painful at times, can't it? Thanks so much for reading and commenting.
Hahahaha! You made me laugh right aloud! Thank you for this, it was just the honest and true laugh I needed after staying up past my bedtime last night watching the VP debate.
I find myself inhaling and exhaling deliberately a lot more than usual lately, but sometimes I think a "cleansing laugh" works even better. So glad to know you were giggling alongside me this morning, Natalie.
I have some failing elastics myself, Elizabeth, as well as very high hopes that I have the grace to manage any such situation flawlessly.
J
I'm sure there are commando advocates somewhere out there who don't have this problem. As I'm obviously not in that league, and can't trust myself to even be in the same stratosphere as anything considered flawless, I guess I need to set a calendar reminder to reup the unders a year from now. 😂
Flawless may have been too strong, really I'd be happy if I got to 90 at all, commando admittedly did not cross the mind... 😆 🤣
Oh how I love this! You put the first smile of the day on my face!
Should we be merely paying attention to the world's horrid woes instead of laughing at undies around someone's ankles? No. WWII and the Brits' and Aussies' and New Zealanders' abilities to laugh in the face of terror proves the point.
Keep on writing such wonderful tales, Elizabeth. They are picturesque and delightful.
On a side note - about 5 years ago I found a basic range of knickers at a store called Big W here (an offshoot of Woolworths) and they're my go-to's. If they stop making them, which we know they WILL do, I'll dissolve into tears. I may have to reach for the breadbasket liner!
Gah! Prue! Too fun thinking of you grinning along with me across the miles. I feel like laughter is universal in its ability to relieve stress. And I've long believed that some comedians are the smartest among us, including fellow entertainers, scientists, philosophers, politicians, and academicians. None of the others have anywhere close to the same ability to get diverse groups of people all paying attention and relating to each other, then receiving controversial content willingly. It's remarkable to watch it happen!
May your Big W bloomers never go out of production! 🍑
I hope the mystery item is indeed keeping your buns warm. BTW I’ll be visiting a friend soon who served in the Red Cross in Vietnam and Korea in the late 60’s and into the 70’s. She/they were an important means of support for the people who were stationed there. I’ve always been very respectful of her and that work.
Ha! Not a whole lot of warmth in these things, but they have other meaningful responsibilities. 😅 My work with the Red Cross was in Blood Services -- to recruit for, plan, and orchestrate blood drives. Essential work, but not nearly as demanding as Disaster Services or wartime aid. Enjoy your visit with your friend(s), and thanks for spending a little time here.
Ah, Elizabeth. It is so challenging, isn't it, to balance our tragedies with our joys? Your story made me smile, all the way through. I don't know if I'll think of your undies or Annie Mae the next time I am updating mine, but it could happen! Thank you for a respite from the harder news of the world. We all need places to rest these days.
Rest, yes, and opportunities to remember all sides of our humanity. It makes me smile to know that you were smiling, Rita. And hey, we never know where Annie Mae might turn up, right?
I hope all is as well as it can be in your world.
It's been better, to be honest. Luckily, I've lived long enough to know that it will be again.
Ah...well, then. I hope the 'will be again' makes itself seen soon. Hugs, Rita.
Elizabeth, I’m a new subscriber and loved your “drawers” post. Got the link to you from another Substack. I noticed you mentioned the mountains of N.C. Asheville, or what’s left of it is my hometown. I just left my Hendersonville home last November for an expat life down here in The Big Dig country. I’m of a certain age where there are many stories lodged in the folds of what gray matter remains in the cranium. If things ever settle down so that my inbox stops filling up with junk mail I fully intend on reading all of your past stories. From what I read today, they will help lighten my mood a lot. Between the destruction of my mountains and damn politics, it’s no wonder my gray hair is getting grayer.
Right this minute though, I’ve got to get off here, feed my lazy dog and fix my lunch. Just another day in the country. It’s nice to meet you and I’m looking forward to more engagement. I really do have a nice “drawers” tale.
Welcome, SPW! I'm honored and delighted that you've joined the flock here. I am so sorry for the devastation that has taken place in and around Asheville. I hope your connections there are safe. How are you enjoying life in your new environs? Quite a change!
I know what you mean about inbox junk. I made the smart decision sometime back to conduct most of my online transactions (purchases, etc) from a different email account. That helps a little. My trouble is that I get a lot of mail I really WANT to read but can't always keep up. First world problems, right? Whatever you get around to reading here, I hope you'll find it to your liking. I can't say I'm always as silly as this piece, but I do always look for a bit of light. Can't wait to hear your tale! 😅
Oh, this is SO FUNNY!!!!! And you've reminded me of something, with this line: "My own mother did the same once, but hers fell from a pocket where she’d inadvertently stashed them."
At a school parents' evening Mum felt she was about to sneeze, and pulled out of her pocket a clean but not-ironed hanky from her pocket for which to catch the sneeze. What she'd grabbed from the basket of clean laundry waiting to be sorted on her way out of the door wasn't a hanky at all, but a pair of white knickers! 🤣
Maybe I'll start a trend: Skivvy Stories on Substack! Love this story. Your mother must laugh about it still. Thanks for sharing in the fun, Rebecca.
🤣
That happened to me once: pulled out of my pocket what I thought was a handkerchief, and it was a pair of Y fronts. I was on the London tube at the time. Fortunately, everyone was too engrossed on their phones to notice.
So, it's true that every cloud has a silver lining. :)
That's one way of looking at it! Chortle
🤣 🩲 😳
Such fun, Elizabeth! 😂
Glad you enjoyed it, Elizabeth. Fun felt like the right thing this week, despite everything.
Loved this, Elizabeth!! Brought a smile to my face multiple times. Especially the part about your “helpmate’s” intrigue with the basket liner. What a delight.
Oh and I love those umbrella close liners, btw.
Oh, I'm so glad you enjoyed this one, Holly. When it happened, I told him it was going to find its way into Chicken Scratch. He protested a little, but not with sincerity. 😂
We are clothesline devotees! Nothing like a loofah-esque bath towel to liven up the day!