“A Drop In Self Esteem”

Tis the season to be jolly.  Tis the season to be fully of joy.  Tis should be the season to be merry, gay and full of cheer.  BUT NO!!!  Not in Yeager’s neighborhood.  I made a huge mistake.  One that I’ve made before, yet I said I would never do again. I’ve written about this subject before and thought I could avoid it.  But, I did it anyway! I went shopping for a new pair of jeans!

If anyone ever, ever, ever needs something to lower their spirits – just travel to any store and look at the rack of jeans.  Uggg!  I decide to start with House of Denim.  It’s in the name, that’s all they sell.  Surely something has to fit.  I walk in and say “I hate jeans.  I love dresses.  I need a pair of jeans.  HELP”!  The lady laughs and says most people say similar things.  She asks my size.   I have no clue.  Jeans don’t come in simple sizes like a 2,4,6.  Instead they are 25, 27, 32.  Then there’s the cut of jeans.  Huh?  I want the style that fits my body perfectly!  Is that too much to ask?

She magically decides that I am a size 27 and picks out various styles of jeans.  I am sent into the dressing room with 10 different pair.  I become excited because I just know that the ‘right size jeans fairy’ has blessed me with the perfect pair.  So, we start with pair one.  The cut is cute, the color is nice.  My five toes slip through the leg hole, I slide the jeans up my thigh and – stop.  They don’t go any higher.  (straight leg jeans don’t like muscular thighs).  I try on three more pair to only have the same problem.  Why! Why! Why!

With each pair that you try on, you get more and more frustrated.  How does Beyonce rock the cute tight jeans and work it out on the stage and in her videos?  What about all the nice jeans I see out at the parties?  Why not me?  I sigh internally and hope the lady behind the counter doesn’t come and ask how I’m doing.  (the response at this time wouldn’t be pleasant).

On to the next round.  Now, these jeans fit over my thighs and on top of my butt.  However, we now have a major problem.  The back of the jeans stick WAY OUT.  It actually looks like a pitcher.  In my mind I sang, “I’m a little tea pot short and stout.  Here is my handle, here is my spout.  When I get all steamed up hear me shout.  Tip me over and pour me out”.  I didn’t know how to solve this problem so I walked out into the store and pleaded for guidance.  “Ah, yes” she said, “That’s what happens when you have such a small waist.”   She continues to tell me that she doesn’t want to go up a size since the waist would just get larger.  In other words, ‘best of luck to ya sista!’

I visited several more store only to have about the same about of luck.  I have yet to see the fun in searching for the perfect pair of jeans.  I’m not sure if they exist.  I did eventually end up getting a pair of jeans.  The thing that made them even more sexy was that they rang up cheaper than the label read (yeah baby!).  However, I’m not completely sold on them and think my heart is genuinely dedicated to dresses.

I think jeans may be like men.  There are a lot of them around.  Some look good, but aren’t good for you.  Some may be good for you, but are just too smothering.  Some may seem like a great bargain, but quickly fall apart.  Others are just plain ridiculous.  And just like men, every once in awhile you’ll find that perfect one – that you cherish and don’t want to let go!

M.Y.  December 2008