I thought that I was destined for higher things. Really, looking back on it now, I don't know why I thought that, but I did. I'm not even sure what I meant by "higher things," even. A hat? That would have been higher.
I know I didn't expect to never fit. I mean, I never fit ANYBODY. I must have been passed on to ten women, maybe twelve ... and nobody was happy. I was too baggy in the thighs on one; too loose in the waist on another; indistinguishable from a sausage casing on the third. Too short, too long, too liable to ride up in embarrassing ways: if I could be uncomfortable, I was. It's not that I meant to; I really didn't. It's just what I was.
The worst part, though, was what they called me. Did you know that there are people in this world who use the word "pants" to mean something is ludicrously terrible? "That film was utter pants." "Slacks" is also just plain awful. Why "slacks"? Why not "sharps"? "I think I'll put on a pair of slacks." You might as well say "I think I'll go shoot myself in the foot." Pantaloons? Loony. Knickers? What a horse does. Britches? "You betchure." Breeches? Once more into the breeches, my friends. Trousers? You've got to be kidding me. TROOOOOOW-zers. Just say it a few times, you'll see. I prefer "nether garment" myself, but, of course, nobody asked me. Hardly anyone even tried me on more than once, so we didn't get to the "what should I call you" stage.
I haven't given up hope, though. Somebody picked me up in a thrift store (I have sunk so low, I admit it) the other day. When she stopped laughing, she held me up to her friend. "I think I can do something with this," she said.
"What, violate non-proliferation agreements?" (Her friend was holding a chartreuse batwing sweater, so I don't know where she found room to talk.)
"No -- what if I did that jeans-to-skirt thing?"
Her friend stopped, considering. "Well, that COULD be cute ... and if not, there's always turning it into a tote bag. Your mom would love it."
So that's what I'm waiting for now. To be a tote bag. Or maybe (oh please!) a skirt. Being a skirt wouldn't be completely pants, would it?
You are flippin' HILARIOUS.
Posted by: Sal | 04/01/2009 at 09:15 AM
Pick me up off the floor!Too damn funny.I would rather be a tote bag than those pants, any day!mere
Posted by: mere | 04/01/2009 at 09:18 AM
Happy April Fool's Day, Erin!
Posted by: Anonymous | 04/01/2009 at 09:35 AM
Oh lol! I love them! A skirt would be so awesome!
Posted by: Bettsi | 04/01/2009 at 10:11 AM
That is fantastic.Patricia
Posted by: Anonymous | 04/01/2009 at 10:39 AM
Well, no one could ever call YOU "inexpressibles", could they?Too trew!
Posted by: La BellaDonna | 04/01/2009 at 10:47 AM
Nice one.
Posted by: JMH | 04/01/2009 at 11:34 AM
You know, a skirt would be so cute. Those poor, horrible pants.
Posted by: Deirdre | 04/01/2009 at 11:44 AM
You always crack me up. I love reading your blog. And getting to look at the wonderful patterns is also excellent.
Posted by: The Hillbilly Banjo Queen: | 04/01/2009 at 11:54 AM
When pants grow up, they want to be skirts! Wow!
Posted by: Marjie | 04/01/2009 at 12:15 PM
This poor pair of pants was meant for higher things - it got a Secret Life, and that's not pants.
Posted by: Karen | 04/01/2009 at 12:21 PM
twice a year a bunch of the wild women and crazy ladies clean our closets. then we get together and trade our clothes. Some clothes are coveted, and some have much fun made of them. This pants story is so totally something we would say. I love it.
Posted by: Anonymous | 04/01/2009 at 02:27 PM
Women's pants? I was sure they were boy's jammy bottoms.
Posted by: Anonymous | 04/01/2009 at 02:59 PM
I am so happy the pants get to be a skirt.. and even better pants found a happy ending on Dress A Day!
Posted by: Theresa | 04/01/2009 at 05:22 PM
Bahahaha, those poor pants, they deserve to be a skirt! We all need a second chance sometimes!
Posted by: ZombieLace | 04/01/2009 at 05:37 PM
ROTFL!!! You are hilarious! I am dying to know if these stories just pour out of you like water, or if you have to think about them for a while and let the form. You have such a talent. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Posted by: gwensews | 04/01/2009 at 07:46 PM
Oh, wait, I read the swimsuit dialog BEFORE this one and now I don't know which is funnier, although the swimsuit dialog is funnier PER WORD.
Posted by: Cathy | 04/02/2009 at 09:58 AM
lol, i don't know why but i was being totally dense and didn't get what was going on in this post until the pit about "never fitting anybody" lol I really am blonde sometimes. This is very funny...more things like this please!
Posted by: Single Lady | 04/02/2009 at 10:25 AM
I found the fabric online: http://www.elingeria.de/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=80_66products_id=1469. Wow... Now you could even make a dress out of this stuff! :)
Posted by: Katha | 04/02/2009 at 02:50 PM
More Secret Lives! Love this #1, Erin. Keep em comin'!
Posted by: SteffS | 04/02/2009 at 05:10 PM
I remember when I was in Junior High, my Mom brought home a pair of cut-offs from Goodwill and made me a bag from them. The fabric was printed with the Coca-Cola script logo in big, alternating red and white squares. I didn't like the fabric and refused to carry it.A couple of months later, this girl who was continually picked on showed up to school in identical, precut-off Coca-Cola pants. She was harassed mercilessly. But, I was amazed that I had seen the same weird pants twice.
Posted by: wundermary | 04/03/2009 at 03:04 AM
these are so david hockney! i wonder if they were inspired by him...
Posted by: Robin Edgerton | 04/04/2009 at 12:30 PM
I feel bad for the pants! You must make them into a skirt, then wear her often and give her much praise.
Posted by: Anonymous | 04/05/2009 at 03:19 AM