tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post5092088685303982045..comments2024-03-29T02:43:11.575-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: What we're writing: Tales from Hallie's OUT fileJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-57986483824149261572014-04-01T12:19:19.843-04:002014-04-01T12:19:19.843-04:00I enjoyed the post, Hallie, but it was the "D...I enjoyed the post, Hallie, but it was the "Depending on Linda" comment that really sent me down memory lane. In my case it was Tammy Kitchen. One of my favorite memories of growing up was the year we started 6th grade, our first year in middle school. (Our district was ahead of its time.) <br /><br />Tammy decreed that in middle school, we were too old for knee socks and needed to wear nylons. I dutifully went home and told this to my mother. Her first reaction was "No," but after my fit and a little reflection, bless her heart, she made this offer. "You can wear nylons the first day, and on other special occasions. But not as an everyday matter." So the first day of school I got off the school bus in my nylons to greet Tammy, standing there in knee socks and red-rimmed eyes. <br /><br />I really, really appreciated my mother that day.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08292993485984273172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-65145055467205971872014-04-01T02:50:49.397-04:002014-04-01T02:50:49.397-04:00Tennis shoes polished white white white!!! And bro...Tennis shoes polished white white white!!! And brown penny loafers...only we put a dime in them. For choir performances we had to have one inch heels. White. That was dictated by the director. We wore hose unless we were wearing knee high socks. My mom insisted on getting us saddle shoes even though I have these long narrow feet that were hard to fit. I always ended up with odd colors. Maroon and tan once. My last pair were so ugly. Olive green and khaki. I refused to wear them. So I finally got the tennis and loafers. :) But I usually ended up wearing the loafers with the knee socks...those darn narrow feet again. Well this brought back memories. :DAnn Metterthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02290723620871351744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-996966112814047092014-03-31T23:59:12.790-04:002014-03-31T23:59:12.790-04:00Okay, I love the idea of saving the snippets from ...Okay, I love the idea of saving the snippets from your story in an OUT file [and I really can’t wait to read the book], but . . . shoes and high school reminiscing . . . <br />::sigh::<br />The best I can do is to say that I had a pair of unmemorable shoes [loafers, I think] and a pair of white sneakers for gym. There wasn’t money for anything fancy and, since in those days I was far more concerned with remaining unnoticed by the “mean girls,” I have absolutely no recollection of what any of the rest of them had or wore . . . . <br />Thankfully, most of those days have long since vanished into the mists of forgotten memories . . . .Joan Emersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06810313925049108163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-91215457812222356992014-03-31T22:36:25.856-04:002014-03-31T22:36:25.856-04:00Pappagallos for me, too, but not with the straps--...Pappagallos for me, too, but not with the straps--just flats, maybe with fake penny loafer design across front, Bass Weejuns (mine were moss green) and Villager shirtwaist dresses. I had a Villager A-lined suit that I loved. I sometimes dream of my high school clothes. Reminds me of the book, Love, Loss and What I Wore.Teresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06666609213171939599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-56342214551618054982014-03-31T17:33:20.593-04:002014-03-31T17:33:20.593-04:00Bass Weejuns. Proudly made near me in Wilton, Mai...Bass Weejuns. Proudly made near me in Wilton, Maine - until the company was sold and the manufacturing was sent overseas.<br /><br />The factory is now partly a great Italian restaurant. Brick walls, cast iron boiler, good wine.Marianne in Mainenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-50379790035636845722014-03-31T17:11:34.072-04:002014-03-31T17:11:34.072-04:00FChurch: Shades of Cher!FChurch: Shades of Cher!Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-86795856382548632082014-03-31T16:56:03.214-04:002014-03-31T16:56:03.214-04:00Roberta/Lucy:
I was talked into saddle shoes(by a...Roberta/Lucy:<br /><br />I was talked into saddle shoes(by a shoe salesman, who said "all the girls are wearing them", plus my parents liked the price) when I was in 7th grade. Yes, it was a horrible mistake, making me the butt of jokes by the class "mean girls".Deb Romanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-33709399645198941712014-03-31T16:25:21.571-04:002014-03-31T16:25:21.571-04:00I actually have a pencil drawing of my feet, encas...I actually have a pencil drawing of my feet, encased in well-loved and the coolest ever fringed moccasins--senior year high school--worn with flared jeans, tees, and straight hair to my waist, blonde, and parted in the middle! You can guess when that was!<br /><br />Love the idea of an out file--sometimes things just don't work and you think, "Damn! That was well-written, too!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-2048197211497539732014-03-31T15:49:36.612-04:002014-03-31T15:49:36.612-04:00Congrats Hallie--what a great feeling to get that ...Congrats Hallie--what a great feeling to get that feedback! Love the picture of you and Jerry too.<br /><br />Sandi, I hate to hear that story of the 13 year old suicide. What heartbreaking details!<br /><br />Villager--yes. We went to the outlets one year (not so common or accessible as they are now) and bought outfits that matched from head to toe. then shortened the skirts at home until they barely covered our butts.<br /><br />But the shoes I remember were the WRONG shoes. I was starting a new school in Michigan, sixth grade. My mother talked me into black and white saddle shoes--oh such a mistake. The kids in that class called me "the cow."Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-6337095033401364732014-03-31T13:33:33.299-04:002014-03-31T13:33:33.299-04:00Wouldn't we all make perfect lemmings??Wouldn't we all make perfect lemmings??Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-37909777831890436502014-03-31T13:16:30.840-04:002014-03-31T13:16:30.840-04:00Oh My Gosh! These memories are now flying around ...Oh My Gosh! These memories are now flying around and I'm stunned at how much I had forgotten!<br /><br />Villager and Weejuns, oh my!<br /><br />Pappagello purses!<br /><br />The one thing I remember being a total brat about was a purse. This is not a good memory for me.<br /><br />When I went off to school, it was a small college located between Wilmington and Philly, on Concord Pike. Brandywine College - now the law school for Widener University. This was an entirely new world for me - not a good one in the long run (another story for another day). <br /><br />All the girls were carrying leather purses with huge brass monograms riveted onto them, and they were ridiculously expensive. They were handmade in New Hope, PA. I, of course, wanted one. Mother said no, so I went to Dad, who said yes. It was the only time I remember them not standing together on something and I will never forget how mad my mom was and honestly, it took every bit of the joy out of that purse. <br /><br />Hallie, I loved reading your "outs!" Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Museshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07486129009717476920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-80172879313846537192014-03-31T12:59:38.468-04:002014-03-31T12:59:38.468-04:00And Hallie, I am looking forward to reading that b...And Hallie, I am looking forward to reading that book! Whenever you've talked about it here, it's been hard for me to put it out of my mind - I want to read it NOW.Deb Romanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-1688041724881635162014-03-31T12:58:52.791-04:002014-03-31T12:58:52.791-04:00Bass Weejuns! I'd never heard of them until I ...Bass Weejuns! I'd never heard of them until I came east to school. <br /><br />Saddle Oxfords -- black and white. I remember what a pain they were to polish. Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-11932414126417651702014-03-31T12:58:11.344-04:002014-03-31T12:58:11.344-04:00We wore uniforms in high school, too, back in the ...We wore uniforms in high school, too, back in the 60s. I have no memory at all of what kind of shoe we had to wear. Whatever it was, I know it caused my feet to hurt! (Most shoes did/do.) On Wednesdays, we were allowed to wear "regular" clothing, instead of the uniform. Most of the time I chose to just wear the uniform, with perhaps a different blouse. Part of the reason was that I really didn't have a lot of non-uniform clothing that would meet the rules and regulations governing our non-uniform wear.<br /><br />When I was in 6th and 7th grade, I DESPERATELY wanted a purse that had a chain for a strap. DESPERATELY! I saved my money and finally bought it for $4 at a discount store! I LOVED that purse!Deb Romanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-31556593479123199982014-03-31T12:52:31.450-04:002014-03-31T12:52:31.450-04:00Hallie, I love that you keep an Out File for your ...Hallie, I love that you keep an Out File for your discarded writing. I'm wondering how often snippets from this file make it into later works. I would imagine that the file could be a great resource. I thoroughly enjoyed your shoe starter.<br /><br />In my small town, the shoe that outshone the rest was the the Bass Weejun, loafer of the stylish. While I never really considered myself stylish and my mother would often tell me I needed to look down at what was on my feet more, I did manage to keep in step with the Bass Weejun craze, probably due to my mother's guidance. I can remember the shoe store and getting fitted for them. At that time I had a rather narrow foot, though tiresomely long. The owners of the shoe store lived across the street from me, and their daughter was my idol and mentor, even though I had two older sisters. I also bought my saddle oxfords for cheerleading from this store. <br /><br />Oh, and Marianne, the Etienne Aigner purses and accessories were beginning to be all the rage when I graduated from high school. One of my graduation presents was an Aigner key chain. A purse came later. <br /><br />What a fun trip down memory lane. I really have never cared too much for the "right" brand of shoe or anything, but it's interesting to remember that there were indeed such things, and even more amazing to recall that I wore them. I suspect others were responsible for me being properly shod.Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-50813113554229700112014-03-31T12:14:25.194-04:002014-03-31T12:14:25.194-04:00We're planning our 45th high school reunion fo...We're planning our 45th high school reunion for this summer. Man, I'm old!!! We wore uniforms and we had to wear Bass tie weejuns. With stockings! How ugly. So we never had any of the "my clothes are better than yours" issues. There were only 27 of us in that class and we've been catching up via facebook while planning this event.<br /><br />However, Pappagallo! Loved them. There was a store in Acton, MA that I visited (a lot.) And Etienne Aigner! Remember the fishing creel pocketbooks? I had Aigner sandals, purses, wallets, key ring, shoes. But this was in college and beyond.Marianne in Mainenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-34032670497345381792014-03-31T12:03:53.287-04:002014-03-31T12:03:53.287-04:00Debs - that white Ked turned blood red belongs in ...Debs - that white Ked turned blood red belongs in a book, perhaps even on the cover...Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-86105134293255270772014-03-31T12:03:06.295-04:002014-03-31T12:03:06.295-04:00Denise Ann - Oh, Villager! I remember Villager. Th...Denise Ann - Oh, Villager! I remember Villager. There was a store on Broadway a block from Barnard College that carried that brand... which btw would have been entirely too preppy for southern california but which I love Loved LOVED.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-72854516608562531132014-03-31T12:02:20.021-04:002014-03-31T12:02:20.021-04:00I do remember wearing white Keds in elementary sch...I do remember wearing white Keds in elementary school, however, for a really weird reason. I was running with my cousin down in the creek bed that surrounded our house. I tripped on something and fell. I got up, and didn't realize I was hurt until I looked down and my (new!)white Ked was red. I had cut the top of my right foot so badly that the tendon was exposed. My uncle had to come carry me up to the house and then I was whisked off to the doctor. Twenty four stitches, and I still have scar to prove it.Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-79466343050265685992014-03-31T12:01:10.065-04:002014-03-31T12:01:10.065-04:00Who knew, boys had THOSE SHOES, too. Had to share ...Who knew, boys had THOSE SHOES, too. Had to share this post on Facebook from Ken Sullivan: I was in high school in the early 60's, too and boys had 'in' shoes also. I suppose it says something about Malden's mostly blue-collar population that our favorites were from Thom McAn and not Florsheim's. First, there were Snap Jacks, a step-in with a kind of tongue on the outer surface of the shoe that had a mechanical device attached inside which allowed you to lift the tongue away from the instep so you could slide your foot in and then you lowered the tongue back into place (it snapped when it was all the way down - thus, Snap Jacks) and tightened it on your foot. After that, there was another kind of slip-on that had a short decorative lace on the side that you could wind around 4 or 6 metal studs. There were several ways you could arrange the laces, each of which was supposed to send a 'message' about how you were feeling that day. And, of course, they had the social status required Cuban heels.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-7261129566862600502014-03-31T11:55:21.846-04:002014-03-31T11:55:21.846-04:00Hallie, my OUT file is called DELETE! No, seriousl...Hallie, my OUT file is called DELETE! No, seriously, I'm one of those people who constantly rewrites, and I never save drafts. <br /><br />After I saw the exhibit the Willis Library at the University of North Texas had made with my notes and edited manuscript pages from my first book recently, I've started keeping my printed, line-edited drafts, just in case some future student wants to see how much a book can improve in rewrites...<br /><br />Loved your excerpt. Would love to read the book you DIDN'T write, as well as the one you did! :-)<br /><br />High school, ack. My daughter swears I was born without the "shoe gene." So while I can remember the baby doll minis (that the teachers would measure from your knee) in junior high, and in high school, the jeans I had to lie down on the bed to zip myself into, I have no idea what shoes I wore... I can tell you that high school was all about bell bottoms, the more bell the better. And if you had some kind of fabric sewn on the bottoms, you were even cooler.Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-23222999590599402542014-03-31T11:12:57.371-04:002014-03-31T11:12:57.371-04:00Congratulations on the editor's note. What a f...Congratulations on the editor's note. What a feeling that must be, especially since you weren't certain which way she was going. Probably true that artists are never a good judge of their own work, though. May the great reviews continue!Jack Getzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09516237388744739669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-27142416794860839712014-03-31T11:07:26.080-04:002014-03-31T11:07:26.080-04:00The list of things I didn't have in high schoo...The list of things I didn't have in high school is way too long! And I didn't even bother to want what other girls had. We wore uniforms to school (with navy blue tie oxfords).<br /><br />I bought all the wrong things for college, using my summer earnings to purchase a sailor dress (!!) and a red plaid Pendleton suit (my mother told me it was a classic).<br /><br />Once in college, though, I started to pay attention. And, I carefully saved for and bought some REAL classics -- my favorite was a powder blue villager suit with a blouse that was all pleated in the front (pale blue tiny flowers).<br /><br />Loved the reunion glimpse and CANNOT WAIT for the new book!!!Denise Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02790883493798517829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-71256725171938693362014-03-31T11:04:27.411-04:002014-03-31T11:04:27.411-04:00Eighth grade, "buffalo sandals:" tan lea...Eighth grade, "buffalo sandals:" tan leather, criss-crossed, a buckle, and cork soles. Finally got them and they squeaked when I walked, so I hardly ever wore them. They're back now, with much higher soles. This time, I'll pass.<br /><br />Thanks to a very stylish mother, I had a great wardrobe in h.s. -- though I was far more interested in books and golf. :) She's still the best person I know to shop with!Leslie Budewitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11942314846112875042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-66344243826922511772014-03-31T10:58:16.017-04:002014-03-31T10:58:16.017-04:00I saved up my clothing allowance to buy yellow sho...I saved up my clothing allowance to buy yellow shoes just like those. And I got a red pair, too. My sister and I could share clothes but not shoes because her shoe size topped out at a 4 1/2! <br /><br />The popular girls all had lovely sweaters over their blouses and plaid mini skirts to match. I tried (sewing mine out of half a yard of material) but I just never looked as nice, or so I told myself. But one of those popular girls who I thought was a bit of an airhead at the time has become one of my biggest mystery fans now. She even drove way across LA to come to my reading in Redondo Beach last June, having retired from a long career as a nurse and social worker. Who knew?<br /><br />I didn't go to a reunion until I was fifty and was much more settled into myself. The smart kids were the ones I wanted to see, anyway, and we picked up like no time had passed. It was great.Edith Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388006370860482509noreply@blogger.com