Being Emily

November 2, 2009 at 8:25 AM

I felt too frumpy for a ninja this year. No, something more reserved would have to do. And since the Community Orchestra's Halloween concert mandated costumes, going as myself was simply not an option. I took a look in the mirror. No, definitely not a ninja.

Let's see, part the hair this way... add a lace trim and a broach, grab this shawl here... Look, it's-- --Emily! Not bad, not bad... I practiced a couple of stiff, intense gazes, and then snapped a self portrait with my digital camera.

Actually, it felt quite comfortable being Emily: all you have to do is simply take the symphony from the violinist and she's already more than halfway there. I could envision myself a few years down the road, after gradually neglecting more and more of my dwindling relationships. I'd drift quite naturally into my own little world, filling up secret blogs with thoughts for no one else to see. All necessary correspondence could be maintained on facebook, and through my colleagues at violinist.com I could continue my string studies. Since I already buy all my supplies on the internet; I could send George in for things like groceries (and while you're at it, pick me up an americano, too). I could even conduct my lessons via webcam--now there's an idea! No, it wouldn't be difficult at all to set everything up so I never had to leave the house. Ever. Again.

Everyone back stage at the Halloween concert complimented my Puritan style and how well it suited me (though some mistook me for Jane Eyre or Hester Prynn). I couldn't disagree with the suitability; I appreciated the way my hair kept its manners the entire day, even through high winds and extreme humidity changes. Plus, black has this wonderful way of disguising lumpy figures, doesn't it? Who needs skinny jeans when I've got this fine floor-length skirt? Surely, with enough frump, you can flatter just about anything! Comfortably content in my costume, I reclined--somewhat properly--on the couch late into the night musing and composing in my undisclosing black skirt and scalp-hugging bun,

With cryptic verse--a Dash--like this
And capital for Emphasis
In time--would Beyond my time
My Voice prove Infinite?

...Eh, maybe not.

From Anne-Marie Proulx
Posted on November 2, 2009 at 2:19 PM

I wouldn't have recognized you! Very funny! We should all upload pictures of us in Halloween costumes to laugh a little bit! I love Halloween costumes as well! I always dress up in Mozart at every Halloween. I can be childish ennough to do so : ) Your costume was pretty well succeded!

Anne-Marie

From Tom Holzman
Posted on November 2, 2009 at 2:44 PM

Emily Version 2.1 is quite a change from what we are used to seeing! Are you considering trying it for a bit to see how it works, other than just for the concert? Your getup harks back to another Emily who was a great poet.

From Lawrence Price
Posted on November 2, 2009 at 10:00 PM

I do believe that Ms. Dickinson, is the person Emily, the original, was impersonating. Rather well, I would say.

From Tess Z
Posted on November 2, 2009 at 10:46 PM

Excellent Emily...Emily.

www.gradesaver.com/author/emily-dickinson/

From Barry Nelson
Posted on November 3, 2009 at 2:13 AM

thats kinda sexy .......in a 1700's sort of way....lol.

Cool choice for halloween !!

From Emily Grossman
Posted on November 3, 2009 at 4:33 AM

1800's. Although, Emily did dress rather old-fashioned during her own time period, in a retro kind of way. That is, until she bypassed fashion altogether and dressed in white until she died.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on November 3, 2009 at 4:43 AM

That was quite a transformation you made, Emily, with only minimal changes in clothing. Very clever and effective.

Tess, thanks for the link to the bio of Emily Dickinson. It was fascinating.

From Yixi Zhang
Posted on November 3, 2009 at 7:18 AM

Brilliant and beautiful as always. Bravo!

From Terez Mertes
Posted on November 3, 2009 at 2:25 PM

Dang, you're pretty. And so photogenic. It really kills the image of the 1800's tho. Most of the women in pics like this looked like ((forgive me, very un-PC comment to follow)) real dogs.

From Rosalind Porter
Posted on November 3, 2009 at 7:34 PM

I guess it must depend where you live - but my immediate thought was that Emily was a carbon copy of Emily Bronte!

http://www.epubbooks.com/author/emily-bronte

I think it is an amazing likeness!

From Mazz Swift-Camlet
Posted on November 3, 2009 at 9:37 PM

Yes, Rosalind! I also thought she meant to be Emily Bronte! Till I read the bit about being a poet... Emily, I loved your short poem by the way. I always thought you were a fantastic writer (your blogs here are some of my favorites!). Great job on the costume, too!

From Rosalind Porter
Posted on November 6, 2009 at 1:55 AM

Just like v.com's Emily, Emily Bronte wrote poems too, but I seem to remember (long time since I was at school...) that they are all quite melancholy. If she had lived in the 21st century, she would have had a blog, written loads of novels and screenplays... instead she had a very isolated life...

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Being Emily

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