gatsby... - a Blog Post by toothysmile

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9181 posts
11/13/2011 6:54 pm

Last Read:
11/27/2017 1:25 pm

gatsby...

Gatsby...

sigh...

This is not a story I tell often. Definitely not one of my proudest moments. But I will share it with you.

We all have our vices, don't we?
And it's probably time I confessed to my<b> sins... </font></b>No, don't expect me to regale you with a case of murder... or even a smaller crime like a bank robbery. Nope. But I am about to make a complete fool of myself so please bear with me.

In a country with a whopping 70% of the population smoking, I am in the minority. I don't smoke. I don't do drugs. I am a very casual drinker.I don't gamble. And I am 100% faithful whenever I am in a monogamous relationship. But I do have what a friend of mine described as a 'shirt habit'. I collect shirts. I have more than I care to admit. Suffice it to say that I have a whole suitcase of shirts that I still haven't worn. And yet I still buy more. Silly? Perhaps.

It all started a long time ago.

When I was 13 years old I saw that movie with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, "The Great Gatsby", after the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, set in the 1920s. Gatsby (Redford) is in love with Daisy (Farrow). She dumps him to marry a rich man. Gatsby is shattered. He works and schemes and gains great wealth. He buys a huge mansion. Throws a big party and makes sure Daisy will attend. In a pivotal scene he takes Daisy to his room. Opens his closet. And shows his admittedly impressive shirt collection. To show off even more, he starts throwing his shirts in the air. Daisy is almost driven to tears. "I have never seen such beautiful shirts", she mutters, implicitly admitting her mistake not to marry Gatsby. Corny as all hell, I know... but, in my young eyes, it just pushed a button in me. My jaw had dropped. That scene stayed with me.

I had decided that this was the way to impress girls. Some boys dreamed of having Gatsby's mansion. Some boys dreamed of his expensive sportscars. Some boys wanted his good looks. Or his athletic abilities. I wanted his shirts. I started patiently and determinedly building my collection of shirts. Steadily. Whenever I had some extra pocket money. Whenever an aunt asked me what I would like for my birthday. For Christmas.

By the time I was in college I had more than anyone I knew. Taking up the greater part of a large chest of drawers.

At some point I was courting a certain girl. Very pretty. Very nice. I was a little shy... I was looking for an excuse to take her to my room. "Would you like to see my shirt collection?" I asked grinning. "Sure", she said. She thought I was kidding. She was wrong. She thought I was trying to be cute. "The last guy asked me if I wanted to see his etchings", she said smiling.

A few minutes later we were in my room. Alone. Soft music playing on my stereo. I smiled. Slowly opened the first drawer. And started tossing my shirts up in the air. All those beautiful fabrics dancing in the air. Just like Gatsby's shirts. Would she be my Daisy? I turned to her. But instead of being impressed, she had that look of horror in her eyes. That "am-I-in-the-room-of-a-serial-killer" look. That "what-does-he-want-to-do-with-me-with-these-shirts" look... That "maybe-he-is-not-really-dangerous-but-he-is-definitely-crazy" look...

I turned beet red. How much of a fool could I be?

She found an excuse to leave. And I was left with a room that looked like a tossed salad... only with shirts instead of lettuce. My Gatsby fantasy had turned to a nightmare.

I never tossed a shirt in the air again. With or without company. But I never stopped buying them in large numbers.

Opus_of_a_liar 47F

11/14/2011 2:23 am

That was a very...I liked your story. I cannot think of anything else suitable to say how great this was. I am lost for words.

I must say that when I was involved in a business and marketing club, I had to buy the best suits and fancy shoes. I figured that if I knocked them dead during my sales pitch or a presentation by my style and looks, it wouldn't matter what I was saying. This worked SOME of the time. For you, it must work all of the time. Women must be fainting in the streets.

Women everywhere must be passed out in front of their computers too!

You devil!

rm_loveslilies 57F

36204 posts
11/14/2011 6:57 am

I think my "real" Father may of watched this movie (he is a robert redford fan) and had a reaction like you, he collects shirts Hawaiian style shirts and has a hat for each and everyone of them. He lives in Florida so it makes sense to a point, he has a huge traveling chest stuff with shirts and a storage closet made just for his hats

and oh he collects those things you cut the ends of cigars off with, he has so many he has a large jewelry box just for them and knowing him I bet each one goes with a hat and shirt

I say keep indulging it makes you happy right

One day I hope to be able to indulge myself, but with flowers..
I want a grand garden and fresh cut flowers everywhere, have you ever seen what dreams may come, starring Robyn Williams and Cuba Gooding JR. ?
I want my home and garden like that !
I want them to look like a timeless beautiful oil painting.
this is the only clutter I will ever put up with

you are so charming.
sorry for the long comment the words just kept coming and coming like the energizing bunny ! speaking of batteries bunnies, and coming

oops I was being naughty again.

If Love Is Not The Answer,
Then I Misunderstood The Question

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