Chanel #5
I’ve always considered my Grandmother a frugal woman. She married, moved out, and built a modest house that she continued to live in the rest of her life. She was not one to give up on a garment simply because it went out of style, or because she’d put on a “little” weight in the thirty years since she purchased it. My Grandmother had three cars the entire time I shared air on this earth with her. She kept towels on the seats to protect the upholstery and plastic floor mats. She left the plastic on her lamps in the living room. Forever. She bought store brand everything but toilet paper and Pledge. (I guess some things are better not scrimped on). I always thought my Grandmother was a thrifty woman.
Until tonight.
….there is a commercial starring Marilyn Monroe that played a lot around Christmas. It’s an advertisement for Chanel No. 5. I adore Marilyn Monroe. I always thought I was more a Jackie O. kinda girl until I read biographies about both women. I digress. Anyhoo, I’ve had it in my mind that I would love Chanel No. 5 since I love Marilyn. Johnny started to get me some for Christmas, but when he smelled it at the counter, he wasn’t so sure I would like it. As far as perfumes go, it’s a little pricey, but I’ve always had champagne taste on a water with lemon budget. So he decided against it for a Christmas gift. We were at the mall tonight and he asked if I would like a bottle.
Why certainly.
We spritzed a little on the cardstock & the smell wafted up to me.
The world spun.
My Grandmother’s perfume.
My Grandmother has been gone from this world five years this past October, but tonight she was right beside me, telling me to stand up straight and shut my mouth before I caught a bug.
I always thought my Grandmother was a practical woman, but I must have stumbled upon her one extravagance. You could have knocked me over with a feather. I must have gone pale because Johnny was like, “What’s wrong? Do you like it? Its kinda…vintage…”
I managed to explain, standing there in the middle of Dillards with tears rolling down my cheeks & women of all ages streaming around us. You’ve always heard that smell is your keenest sense of remembrance, & I truly believe it. I felt like I was standing in the center of a carousel while everyone sped past. Young, giggling groups of girls trying it for the first time…older women who wanted a refresher…young moms who wanted to feel elegant in the midst of diaper bags & impatient husbands.
Chanel No. 5, I know about you. You were my Grandmother’s one indulgence.
Related Posts
The Legend of the White Crawdad
If my Uncle Dale were still alive, I would be out there swapping lies with…
04 January 2014
My Most Favorite of All
He called me Pilgrim. We shared a love of peach milkshakes, pickles, peanut M&…
04 January 2014