1.25.2012

Love, Loss, and What I Wore









Jacket: Forever 21, Skirt: Target, Yellow Top: Forever 21, Shoes, Target (wow...I spend a lot of time in Target and F21), Necklace: HandPicked (I think), Watch and Purse: Michael Kors (photos: Carrie Hawkins Foust)
Last night a few friends and I had a girls night out. We went to dinner and then to a play that was being performed at a beautiful local theater (a converted church, stained glass windows...very pretty). We went to see "Love, Loss, and What I Wore".  It was hilarious, beautifully written, poignant, touching, and it seemed that every other word hit home to at least one of us.  The stage was simple. It had a purple screen backdrop and the 5 actresses sat on tall stools and read their monologues. Sometimes they read together, sometimes as individuals. They recounted life stories of women and girls and how the clothes that they wore defined, reminded them, or ignited memories of specific times in their lives. My description is not doing it justice, but trust me....it was incredible. Before going to see it I Googled it (of course) and found out that it was written by (and starred) Loretta Swit. Her name may not ring a bell, but she is best known for her role as  the (main) female doctor, Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on M*A*S*H. If you are unfamiliar with that show, it was a long time running television series that followed Army doctors in South Korea during the Korean War. It stopped running in 1983 (when I was 3 years old) but it ran for a loooong time after (and you can still catch it once in a while) in syndication. As soon as I found out that the play I was about to see was written by and starred, "Hot Lips" from M*A*S*H I immediately stopped what I was doing and was consumed by thoughts/memories of my Grandpa Hess. My Grandpa Hess' real name was Walter, but everyone called him "Zip". He was 6'6, about 275lbs, and to me, he was larger than life. Literally and figuratively. My grandpa was always busy doing something, but he stopped every day to eat dinner at the table when my Grandma Hess called him and then immediately went to "his" recliner to watch M*A*S*H. I used to climb on top of my grandpa, sitting on his lap, shoulder, or in my favorite place, balancing on the arm of his chair with my head lying on his chest. I sat perfectly still as we watched M*A*S*H. I didn't appreciate the show at the time, but I really loved my Grandpa and that was the only time he sat still, so I sat still too. Thoughts of my Grandpa usually make me sad. He passed away when I was 10, but I am tearing up as I recollect these memories almost 22 years later. For some reason when I think of my Grandpa passing, one memory stands out to me, and ironically enough it ties right into the theme of the play. I think of...you guessed it...what I wore. To his funeral that is. I remember it because I loved the outfit. It was a pair of parachute pants (dressy ones) and a matching top (hey...it was 1990). It was light blue and maroon and had a floral pattern. It was the nicest outfit I owned, so my mom put me in it for Grandpa's funeral. I hated that outfit after that day. I don't think I ever wore it again. It became "the outfit I wore to Grandpa Hess' funeral".  It's funny how that memory all tied into the play. I guess the title "Love, Loss, and What I Wore" was more relevant than I thought. 

5 comments:

  1. Hey Mis what a touching memory.I loved your Grandpa too.He was a gentle giant.He always treated me well even if Grandma didn't.By the way,don't forget Bonnie who you had to share his lap with too. Grandparents are great even if after time they get alittle crazy. Love your Mom and your biggest fan.

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  2. I remember Grampa Hess! It's how we met all those years ago when our Grampas were friends and we'd color together inside fridge boxes while that big fluffy sheepdog ran around. Miss those simple days!

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  3. Great story!! I remember vividly what I wore to my Gramma's funeral. I had to go out and buy a dress because apparently I thought I was a boy and dressed like one, so I didnt own a dress. It was hunter green and incredibly ugly. I wore it with black stockings and black flats and looked as awkward as I felt. I was embarrased to be in that dress, and embarrased to cry in front of my friends, and if I could do it over again I'd go in jeans and a tshirt and cry for my Grandma. Love ya, thanks for bringing my Grandma to my thoughts today!!! Tish

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  4. YES, the big white fluffy dog, that was my Grandpa Hess' sidekick, Bonnie. He loved that dog so much, maybe even as much as I loved coloring on big boxes that kitchen appliances came in. ;)

    Tish-THAT was a great story. You almost made me cry. I can picture you and your skinny legs in black tights and a hunter green dress. Awwwwwww, I want to go back in time and hug you in that dress. Love YOU.

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  5. I knew your grandpa Hess from growing up in the Bloody 5th ward and going to Lincoln School....he was very involved in scouts and a great man...always doing something and nice to everyone who met him. I can remember what I wore to my husband's funeral and as you wrote, it is funny what we remember and it does fit it with Life. Nice post.

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