Shopping 1976

  The year was 1976, and our Class Reunion was coming up, and I needed something to wear.  That was the time when I worked almost every day, and I had 2 young kids, so I would try to combine my shopping trips with whatever other errands or appointments I had. On this day, before I would shop for my dress, I had scheduled an appointment with an orthopedist, probably the first specialist I'd ever gone to except for my obstetrician.  And I think he was the only doctor I'd seen since good old Dr. Sproat.  My knee had swollen up and I didn't know why.  True, I had injured it a few times, once in an auto accident (I wasn't driving) and another time, and more painfully, while ice skating. I went to Dr. P. not knowing what to expect, and that's how I came to receive my first cortisone shot.  I was not much bothered by knee pain when I went into the office, but that was to change, suddenly and severely.  The doctor evidently didn't believe in any numbing medications prior to inserting a very long needle, and my thought was that he had nailed my leg right into the table.  The pain abated though and I left the office to start my shopping.  I went to the stores in Troy: Peerless, Denby's, theTowne Shop, the Up To Date Store, and whatever other stores were spread out through the city, but couldn't find what I wanted.  I drove across the river to Cohoes Mills, an old barnlike warehouse of a  building that had clothing hanging against the walls on 2 different levels.  Up and down the stairs, trying on dozens of dresses and finally settling on a rather risky new style, a black jumpsuit, which fit exactly right and looked quite fashionable, if I do say so myself.  The legs were bell bottoms, the sleeves short and flaring a little, the neckline a modest vee topped by a little bolero jacket effect.  The material, polyester of course, was sleek and smooth fitting. 
    Fortunately, the class reunion was still several weeks away because when I got home, my knee was throbbing with pain I'd never felt before. I looked at the slip of paper the doctor's office had given me, and it said that after the injection I was to stay off my feet for 24 hours at least.  Too late, I'd already walked all over the city of Troy as well as Cohoes' factory store.  But I healed anyway.
   The day of the Reunion when I was getting dressed in what I expected to be my form fitting jumpsuit, I noticed that it did not fit quite as well as I'd thought, especially around the waist area.  I had not gained any weight in the few weeks so I couldn't understand why the material didn't lay as flat as I'd remembered, but didn't really mind that much.  (This all happened 35+ years and almost that many pounds ago.)  I did go to the Reunion, which was at the American Legion and we all had a good time.  We were doing the Bunny Hop when I suddenly felt dizzy and lay down on one of the benches or whatever piece of furniture that was in the room.  I remember one of my classmates snapping my picture, thinking I was drunk.  It was at the end of the evening, and we were all still young, relatively speaking.
     Not long after that, I came to know that the reason for my dizziness was a  common cause during those years.  My third child was born 8 months later.  I never wore the jumpsuit again, though I must say it served its purpose well: a fashionable yet slightly edgy look.  I recall this scenario because the next time the jumpsuit is worn will be in Australia.  G'day.