The Agony of the Bathing Suit Search
I took a short break from my Work-in-Progress today because I needed to buy a gift for a baby shower . . . as well as the first bathing suit I’ve purchased in well over a decade. June 30th we leave for the beach. The WIP will be done by then. Usually when I go to the beach, I spend my time writing in the house or cottage we’re renting. This time, I’m determined to leave work at home and actually make it into the water, even if it’s only the pool in the little community where we’ll be staying.
It’s been so long since I’ve checked out bathing suits that I didn’t even know what a “tankini” was until today. And I sure didn’t buy one. I’m definitely in the one-piece decade. They have all these suits to correct your various anatomical problems, but I need one designed in the nineteenth century. Still, I was courageous and tried a bunch on and actually bought one. Very simple black number. Then, since I was doing so well, I thought I’d try on a few summery togs. What has happened to my body? And could it have anything to do with sitting in front of the computer 24/7? There was this one really cute long beachy dress hanging on a rack. I tried it on and laughed out loud. I looked like a cross between an old hippie and Miss Piggie. I may need to rethink my curly hair.
So I spent the rest of the day reminding myself that I have value and am loved and all those other things people remind themselves of when they’re horrified by what they see in the mirror. And I’m going to get back to work as soon as I have a piece of carrot cake. . .
I’m back! What an incredible trip. I took SO many pics and my head’s swarming with lots of ideas for canvas paintings. Diane, speaking of swimsuits, I saw everything at the beach and the pool. What I love is that noone really cares what people look like in their bathing attire. People of all shapes and sizes were in their bathing suits and to me, they all looked beautiful…everyone was just so happy to be on Nantucket and honestly, people could care less what others were wearing. I encourage you to be comfy in your own skin and your beauty will shine through. D, you were so right about the charming cottages…I simply fell in love with them and everything else on the Island. P.S. LOVE this darling pic of you in your bathing suit! I’ve started a painting of my little friends Kate and Caroline who are 8 and 12…they were at the beach with us and in their swim suits, look alot like this pic of you! The painting is of the 2 of them standing in the ocean.
Margo, welcome home! i KNEW you’d love Nantucket. Who wouldn’t? I can’t wait to see some of the paintings you do of the island. Did you fly over or take a boat? Where did you stay?
Thanks for the bathing suit encouragement. That is my attitude: just do it and who cares? At least that’s the attitude I’m trying to hold onto. LOL.
Thx Diane! Took a ferry from Hyannis over to Nantucket. Return trip, flew from the Island to Boston. Stayed at HARBOR HOUSE VILLAGE and it was simply lovely…within walking distance to everything. I did lots of quick ‘thumbnail’ sketches while there and am turning many of these into larger canvas paintings. Have already started the 2 sisters in the ocean and I feel like my heart is still on that beach as I paint this! I’ll be sure and send you photos later down the road of my paintings. Your attitude is ‘right on’ with the bathing suit. My body is far from perfect and I could care less…be free in your own skin and be happy…that’s the beauty that shows…and enjoy food too! P.S. Gary and Kramer were very happy to see me…Kramer was glued to me in bed the first nite back and slept in my arms.
I didn’t realize Gary wasn’t with you! Poor guy. I bet both your guys were thrilled to have you home.
They were both ecstatic to see me. This trip had been planned for a year with my friend and her 2 small daughters. Gary would have been the only guy and he wanted to stay home with Kramer. He encouraged me constantly to go, have fun and enjoy so that’s exactly what I did. I want to go back next year and he wants to go on that trip after seeing all my pics. We’re talking about driving to Hyannis and taking the ferry over with Kramer on board too! Lots and lots of people had their dogs with them and THE HARBOR HOUSE takes pets so Kramer would fit right in!
LOL! You’ll just have to read my book (“Real Women Wear Red”) because Sandy Brown goes bathing suit shopping and insists on a tankini. 🙂
Sandy Brown sounds like a very cool woman. . . but I think I’ll be happier in my one piece.
I am pretty eager to hide my flaws in a skirted tankini these days, but was pretty amazed at the desperation of a lady at our pool last week–she wore one of those long sheer things you wrap around your rear as a cover up INTO THE POOL. I was getting in and saw this flourescent pink thing billowing under the water and tried not to stare, then when she got out of the water, I figured out what it was! And she was actually pretty skinny, even.
I do hate it when the skirt from my tankini floats up and tries to strangle me in the water. LOL
Now i instantly want to know that woman’s story. Maybe she’s hiding burns on her legs? Maybe it’s a religious thing not to show her legs? Hmm.
Unless I am completely missing the point of a tankini, it seems like it would expose the dreaded puffy middle of most unsvelte women, no?
A tankini is a two-piece suit that often meets in the middle (although not all do) and can even overlap a bit, which is perfect unless you have great abs! I guess the word comes from the combination of tank suit and bikini. The two I have are like tank tops paired with tennis skirts. Probably not true to the original definition, but those little skirts are wonderful for hiding the dreaded cellulite and thighs.
And the lady in the coverup–I dunno…it at least did not appear she was wearing it for any reason other than not exposing her thighs. Probably the same reason I had a pair of athletic shorts on over a regular swimsuit!! She was probably looking at me funny, too. 🙂