Yes, It's Safe to Dance

...We can dance if we want to

We can leave your friends behind
'Cause your friends don't dance and if they don't dance
Well they're no friends of mine
I say, we can go where we want to
A place where they will never find
And we can act like we come from out of this world
Leave the real one far behind
And we can dance...

...we can go when we want to

The night is young and so am I

And we can dress real neat from our hats to our feet

And surprise 'em with the victory cry....

For the past few years, this blog has helped to build my confidence as I found my voice and allowed my thoughts and ideas to emerge from the safety and security of my own mind. It's hard to recreate the anxiety I felt before publishing the first post, which was so much greater than the anxiety I still feel each time I present my opinions to the world in this indelible form. Even now, I often look with an overly self-critical eye at my previous posts, wishing that I had spent more time crafting variation into my sentence structure or perhaps using a more poetic depiction of the moments I was attempting to record. I know that these thoughts -- my greatest critics -- will always remain, but I am glad to have challenged them with this blog. More importantly, I have appreciated the support from readers, both friends whom I know and love and friends whom I have never had the opportunity to meet.

The past few months have been a time of transition for me. I changed jobs, an encouraging development that has allowed me to feel more secure about my abilities and has given me an opportunity to develop new friendships. I appreciate this new role daily and view it as a gift -- a very personal gift full of opportunities for personal and professional growth.

While I compare the posts I chose to publish with those that remain in the draft folder, I am aware how my voice has changed over the years. Sadly, I feel that this blog is no longer the best representation of what I hope to communicate, and it is this evolution that has cemented my decision to move to another blog. I have rented space at a new address, www.lorfin.org, which will become live over the next few weeks as I add content and personalize the site to suit my tastes. I hope that the new format on this new site will give me the freedom to explore new ideas without feeling entrenched in the past.

Yes, I have decided that it is safe to dance. I hope that you'll join me!

A Golden Idea: Shoe Design

I saw this arresting photo during one of my extensive eBay searches:

 A classic pair of platforms with an edge — a bit of gold applied haphazardly, as if to suggest a preference for both indolence and decadence. These shoes have the appeal of imperfection.

Of course, I was disappointed almost immediately. What looks like gold leaf is just a reflection of the camera flash on the patent leather. 

But what if it wasn't? So many possibilities.

The Mimi Kirk Story

Thanks to my friend Suzanne, I have my own copy of the Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted. This collection of stories about Valerie and Mary and writers like Treva Silverman is as delightful as the Emmy-winning show.

 Like many of Valerie Harper's fans, I have thought of her often in the last few months. As I watch her most recent interviews, I find myself laughing and crying with her, empathizing with the woman who has been one of my role models for the past ten years. Valerie has exemplified bravery and perseverance by meeting this difficult time with strength and grace, and, despite her illness, she has continued to inspire so many with her warmth and optimism. I hope that she feels encouraged and supported by her many fans. 

In Rhoda, Valerie embodied a realistic character; she was beautiful but insecure, tough but vulnerable and kind, and practical but always stylish. From the start, I wondered about her exotic jewelry, her scarves, her flowing tops and her many pairs of boots. Who was her stylist? Who inspired the iconic Rhoda look?

According to Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted, Mimi Kirk was the creative soul behind the clothing and accessories; she was the maverick who brought the headscarf to mainstream America.

So, who is Mimi Kirk?

During MTM days, she was a secretary and lighting double. But she is so much more!

 You can read a short biography here.

Here are my three favorite tidbits from the book:

"Kirk began meditating after her husband died in a private-plane crash. And she took on many of the accoutrements of the health-food and self-help culture she'd adopted, including the flowy, hippie wardrobe. She loved clothes made out of scarves and tablecloths and even bedspreads. On a typical day on the set, she wore jeans and Frye boots, floaty tops and huge earrings, and the occasional headscarf" (131). 

According to Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted, Valerie noticed Kirk's unique style and thought it might be a good foil for Mary's quieter, business wardrobe. Kirk became Valerie's assistant, "making clothes for Harper—scarf-like tops, a purse made out of a abalone shell. She coordinated with [costume designer Leslie] Hall" (131).

  "The headscarf—an idea Kirk had lifted from a photo spread she saw in National Geographic—had become a national trend" (132).

Of course, I'm not the first blogger to write about this section of the book.

You can find more information (and a video!) here.

If you're a fan of MTM and Rhoda, I recommend that you add Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted to your summer reading list!