The Days of Whine and Tuxes!

Well, maybe there is a post in me yet today.

I was watching the noon hour news and a segment was introduced, all about upcoming Prom and Wedding season. The man being interviewed was one I know of very well. His store used to be competition for the formal wear store I worked at for almost five years of my young adult life.

The interview took place in his store, the same one he has always been in - and even now, twenty something years later it still looks the same. It made me rather nostalgic. As if this week has not had enough of that for me - now I am thinking back fondly on my earliest working days, as a "slave" in the formal wear industry. Now, I use the word "slave" lightly, because, really slaves do not receive a paycheck, and although I worked day and night, stood on a hard concrete floor, spent hours sewing, washing, ironing and steaming formal wear and at times felt very slavish, I did get paid, and I did enjoy the job. But this time of year - it was truly the worst.
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The doomsday clock usually started striking around the end of March, when all the kids who took social dance class would need to be fitted for their tuxedos. This would usually require one or more nights of showing up at their lessons to fit them all, usually about 300 kids. Then of course all through April, the store was a buzz with teenagers, either in packs of boys, or the lone boy with his usually controlling girlfriend come to make sure the bow tie matched her dress. During this time, most often on Saturdays, the store became wedding central, with lots of couples coming in to pick out formal wear and set up fittings for their wedding party. It could be an exciting time,but most often, it meant late nights, early mornings and lots of tired employees.

Looking back, some of the greatest memories of my young adulthood came from this store. Our store owner was a very likable,big brother type of guy with a young family to feed. He hired us college folks to basically run the business for him. Myself and another girl usually worked with the customers, took orders and then prepped the suits, while the three guys employed there, drove our van, helped us out and keep the place in order. It was fun. Imagine if all the characters on Friends (the tv show) worked in the same retail store. That was us -- lots of fun, high emotion, some young love thrown in the mix - quite a memory making hub.

The days of tuxedos ended for me after almost six years, everyone else scattered as well, all except the owner, who heralded our flight into the "real" world. Some of us left with degrees, some with marriage, some with just a new, more adult position in corporate America. But we all left a piece of ourselves with him and that store.

The building we all inhabited was torn down years ago, the store is still owned and operated by our old boss, although now it is a different, more modern location. I am sure there today, another gang of college kids are sitting around, trying to eat a hurried lunch as customer, after customer comes ringing through the front door. I hope they treasure this time, I hope they keep all the memories and realize how great they have it, its a great time of life, and I know that is a great place to work.

Most days like today, a Friday during prom and wedding season, I can remember that I would be complaining about right now, lunch would always be interrupted, always busy, but right now, as I sit and reminisce, I kinda long for those days again. Not the work, maybe just the people. I really could use a great game of "Try to ring the garment bar with a hanger" about now.

If you are one of the gang from the old Simon's Store, circa 1985 - 1990, drop me a line, let me know where you are - you are missed and forever hold a place in my heart.

Living Happily Ever After,
Beverly