Friday, June 13, 2008

When In Abu Dhabi

Just before we moved to Abu Dhabi two years ago, I bought something I'd never owned before: a ball gown.


Having lived in New Hampshire for more than a decade, I was accustomed to donning waterproof boots, jeans, and a good wool sweater when I left the house. I wore heels only to church on Sunday - that is, if it wasn't snowing, raining, muddy, or icy.

I remember the day I bought this fancy long dress. I was in New York for the weekend, clearing out my family home after my mother died. I took a break from what was a sad task and decided to check out a nice clothing shop nearby. I spotted an elaborate silk ball gown in the "clearance" corner.

Was I crazy? I'd entered the shop in search of conservative, lightweight, cotton skirts and pants for hot weather in a Muslim country, and now I was holding a ball gown. Maybe not, I told myself. I remembered reading it was handy to have something formal in Abu Dhabi.

I nervously paid for the dress, half feeling that such things were for other ladies and not me. But as the clerk carefully pulled a garment bag over the gown, she smiled and said, "Lucky you to have somewhere to wear this." Even in this upscale New York shop, most of the apparently affluent customers were buying casual clothes.

As I pack for the move home, I see five ball gowns in my closet*, and it doesn't seem like such a big deal.

*(Now I'll see if M really reads this blog. By the way, I didn't pay very much for any one of these dresses: it's a surprising thing that you can easily find affordable ball gowns in Abu Dhabi. Really.)

6 comments:

Unknown said...

You bet I read it! With valuable information like the number of ball gowns you've been hiding in the closet, this is the best source of information on the Web!

:) -M

Frances Gunnison said...

Ha!

Anonymous said...

Now it's time for "dress up" and have a photo taken of you in one of those gowns! That would be special before you leave Abu Dhabi. Love and thoughts ~ Eileen

Anonymous said...

Eileen said: "Now it's time for "dress up" and have a photo taken of you in one of those gowns! That would be special before you leave Abu Dhabi. Love and thoughts."

I second that. With M by your side, if possible.
Regards,
J.

Frances Gunnison said...

Okay, will have to fish out a pic of us together.

Pixie said...

I want to see your dresses----Alix who posted a blurb of one of your posts except read it wrong and reported the fashions were from Dubai

P.s What other souvenirs did you take home with you?