French Couture
I am an anxious traveler. The last time I left the country, I spent the night before my flight wide eyed in bed and picturing the distance between Utah and Argentina – my destination – and feeling like I was sliding off the earth. As if gravity had given up on me and loosed me into space.
I am about to embark on another international adventure. I’m feeling anxious but, for some reason, that anxiety is manifesting as a panic I have never experienced before. This is what it is saying to me:
“I’m going to France. What the heck am I going to wear?!”
This makes no sense. A.) I am not going to Paris, I am going to Provence. B.) Since when do I care about what I look like? My fashion instincts always gear me toward an average look. Not great. Not bad. All I want: not to be noticed.
I’m traveling with a friend who does care about dress, however. I think that’s part of it. I think I also want to look cute in the travel pics. But mostly I don’t want to look like a schlub next to my friend.
We had a chat about this the other day. Here is a bit of it.
Rachel Lewis
Welcome! I’m a middle-aged former Mormon (aka the “other FOMO”), essayist, and playwright living in Salt Lake City. I work in pharmaceuticals professionally and write recreationally—though I’m open to reversing that someday. On Life and Lemons is where I share humorous snippets about writing, addiction, recovery, relationships, mental health, and whatever else life tosses in the blender. If you enjoy dark humor with a twist of lemon-tart snark—or just need proof that your own life isn’t the only one held together by twist ties and good intentions—you’re in the right place. You can follow me and get updates on the release of my new essay collection at instagram.com/pieces_of_string/. 🍋 Subscribe and let’s overthink things together.
One Comment
The Indecisive Eejit
I think for trips people usually pack too much and then wear the same things over anyway lol