Living in Other Countries

Image by Piano Piano! via Flickr

I had the proud distinction when I was little of being the “only born American” and I wore that honor with pride. My parents and my older sister were all born in different countries and even though my parents and sister came to the United States when my sister was 9 months old, I still felt special.

At this point in my life, with my husband and our two almost grown children, I would love to live in another country for a few years. Italy, Spain, England, Holland? Greece, Israel, Japan? I love to visit different countries when we can afford it. The only place I wouldn’t want to live? Paris. I would be such an American outcast, wearing my blue jeans and long-sleeved gray GAP shirt, sneakers and clogs. There’s no way I’m wearing high-heeled stilettos and expensive outfits for any city. However, the French countryside is breathtakingly beautiful and I wouldn’t mind learning how to make cheese. For now, I think I’ll stay right here in the USA where I can wear what I want and still drink strong coffee and pastries. If, however, the opportunity came up…..I can pack quickly.

In My Opinion…The GAP

I am a normal, average size woman. Not the normal, average size woman of the size 0 model claim to fame but the universal, real, curvy women of the world. I walked into the GAP this morning looking for a couple of shirts for the fall. The Gap used to be my one stop shopping place to go. Long-sleeved Tee shirts in all colors, I remember looking at the pretty hues, pink, red, blue, light blue, green used to make me happy.  Apparently, I have not been to The Gap in a really long time.

When I walked in I was greeted by racks of  Skinny Jeans and Skinnier jeans. My arm couldn’t fit in those pant legs, I’m quite  sure. What size were they? Oh, two. Two? What REAL woman wears a two? Not those of us who live in the world that I live in. I’m quite sure the universal average size is a fourteen not a two.  I asked the salesman who worked there where the long tee shirts were and he showed me. Here is the color selection he pointed to: black, white, gray.  “What happened to all the beautiful colors you used to have?” I asked sweetly. “We don’t do that anymore, we just have the basics.” You know what? Even the basics were so thin I wouldn’t wear them in the fall, much less the winter.  The Gap, as I knew it, was gone. No long- sleeved shirts other than the “basics?”  “Look on-line” he droned and left.

Now the jeans have become leggings or jeggings or deggings, not sure what they are truly called but they are a combination of leggings and denim. That’s certainly an appropriate look for those of us who are older in age, seasoned, experienced; lovely, mature, beautiful women of the world.

The shoes they sold were all tiny and scrunchy and looked like they couldn’t take a hard pounding on the pavement. The handbags were massive, with a button close, not good for those of us who are neurotic about having  handbag zipper protection. No different styles, just a few, dull, different colors.

I ‘ll say “Good-bye” to The Gap and search elsewhere. I know they are all under an umbrella company with sister, The Banana Republic but that’s too preppy for me. I am leaving The Gap family, and on my search for comfortable, bright grown-up clothes. So much for THAT shopping expedition. May all the size two’s make them rich, I wish them well.

The GAP is a registered trademark of The Gap, don’t sue me, it’s just my opinion.