Can you pinpoint the very moment in time that set you on the path to meet a current/former significant other… the moment that forever changed your entire life and legacy?
Think about it, if you will.
This “lifetime” thought began this morning with finding a sample lipstick from a summer event swag bag that I just this morning had time to investigate. The box containing the lipstick caught my attention. It is a cinnamon-colored box with a lovely sheen. The color of the lipstick – Sweet N’ Spicy – is printed on one side. OK. That sounded intriguing at 8:00 am, before even brushing my teeth. But it was the little one-liner printed above the color and ingredients list that fully engaged me. It read: “Contains the sensual aroma of cinnamon and vanilla that may possibly attract a man.”
Hmmm. I looked a bit more closely at this little promised miracle in a box. The lipstick is by JOEY ny Specialty. (No, I do not represent JOEY… I just happen to have had this 3″ x 3/4″ specialty item in my swag bag.) I opened the box to find a black tube… a bit heavier to the touch than some other brands. Kind of retro. Real nice. I pulled off the top. I twisted the tube. And I slid the color over my lips.
I liked it.
“Now what?” I thought. Must I stay in my home all day? Dare I take the chance of heading out to the post office or grocery store or my local deli for fear of the possibility of attracting… A MAN?
Hell, yeah. I went to Dunkin’ Donuts for an iced coffee. But the cashiers were all women. No wonder they didn’t notice my lips. I went to the post office. The postal employees? Women. I even walked to a little lunch place with Jane and a very good friend (after really rolling on the color). Yep. A waitress took our order. I decided that my husband, Barry, might be the only man I’d attract with my “cinnaMEN” (yes, it does actually say that on the box, too). And that, my friends, is worth its weight in lanolin.
‘Cuz it got me thinking about that man of mine. How perfect he is. How he doesn’t care if I have lipstick on at all. Or how these decades have tested my butt and my thighs… and my face. And it got me thinking about the moment that forever changed the course and legacy of my entire life.
It was in January, 1975. I was researching the topic of desegregation in the school system in the City of Providence for a paper I was writing. I remember thinking, “I want some interviews and some anecdotal information… not just statistics.” I was standing in a college building lobby, and I saw a phone booth… the kind with a nice glass door that could be shut for privacy. It even had a wooden bench and low lights. Once inside, my life would forever be chartered on a different course. I opened the phone book and flipped through the pages until I saw something that I thought may help. It was the phone number of a gentleman who worked for the State Department of Education. I dropped in my coins and made the call that would change everything. The gentleman had lots of information, and he agreed to meet me the next morning. We met. He showed me documents and notes from minutes and time lines. He basically opened up a world of Providence history to me. When I was leaving, he asked if I would be interested in volunteering at a school that needed Reading teachers. I said, “Yes.” He made a phone call on the spot and set up an interview with the principal of that school for the next day. I arrived at that interview… and was so impressed with what was going on at that school that I agreed to begin volunteering with students at risk for academic failure the very next day.
Well, little did I know that my future husband would be teaching there. But he was. And the rest is, as they say, history.
So… back to the little tube of magic that “may possibly attract a man.”
I already have one, thank you. I have the man, the magic and the cinnaMAN. And I thank God every day.
So now I guess I have two questions:
1. Can you pinpoint the moment in time that changed the course of your life?
2. What is your favorite lipstick? Mine is now JOEY’s Sweet N’ Spicy… because it brought back all the sweet ‘n spicy memories I could ever hope for.
I loved your story. And yes, I can definitely pinpoint the moment that changed the course of my life. It’s pretty cool to realize that things had to happen to ensure that you meet the person with whom you’re meant to be!
Ooh, lipstick. I’m actually a bigger fan of lipgloss, but I really like Bobbi Brown lipsticks. My favorite is Raspberry shimmer because I wore it on my wedding day.:)
I can certainly pinpoint the moment that changed my life in reguards to my sweet husband. His roommate at the time was interested in me (more interested in the idea of getting married, but that’s another story!) and invited me to a BBQ at their house. I almost didn’t go because I didn’t want to encourage him since I wasn’t interested. I finally made a deal with my roommate that if she’d go with me, I’d go and that way, he wouldn’t get the idea that I was there as his date. That night, a very handsome young man sat down at the table next to me and made a joke. I’m a sucker for the funny so I looked up at him and behold…he was beautiful. 🙂
Favorite lipstick? I am on a search for one. I have 2,345 lip gloss/lipsticks in my purse and makeup bag but I’m not in love with any of them. I may have to try your new favorite 🙂
Totally cool story.
I can pinpoint it because I first laid eyes on him he was carrying a sack of coconuts. I turned to my girlfriend as he passed and said “He looks good coming and going.” The rest they say is history.
BTW – I don’t way lipstick – he doesn’t like the way it tastes when I kiss him. Lipstick or the man of my dreams – you see who won.
That is a great story! I remember our moment, but a better moment for us was actually after a period where we were no longer together and hadn’t spoken for two months. For weeks I considered sending him an email , but always talked myself out of it. One night, after going through the same routine and finally getting into bed, I tossed and turned, clinging to this feeling that I just had to write to him now and say everything I’d been meaning to say. I dragged myself out of bed at 2 am, made my way to the computer, and sent him my note. Thirty seconds later my phone rang. He had just gotten out of bed to send me an email he had drafted earlier and saw mine in his inbox. We figured it was fate (of a modern variety!).
I have never found a lipstick I love either! But I am a big fan of Clinique products.
Wow! You’re experience with that lipstick after our tweets this morning turned out even more exciting than I could have ever imagined.
The moment that changed my life? Could be one of many. My story is too long but everything that played a role in my mom going back to school and having to take me along for her computer courses set me on the path to meeting Honey.
My favorite lipstick you already know, Revlon Color Stay, but I prefer lip stain. Interestingly enough I bought and used my very first lip stain for my wedding.
Well, I think we all have lots of moments. 🙂
But yes – the moment my mom’s coworker told her about a place she knew about near her hometown for rent.
We moved to Parkersbug, IA – where I met my would be husband. 🙂
To say that I treasure that fact that I’m your CinnaMan is an understatement! I don’t know how I got so lucky in life to be in this spot, but I’ll take it! And, by the way, I don’t care if you wear lipstick or not, but when you do, it ok with me!
Your…CinnaMan
Oh Sharon, I love your story. I met my hubby on a blind date. My girlfriend brought a picture of him to school one day and told me he was single and I asked her to set us up. The first date, he brought me 1 dozen red roses and I can remember asking him if he were rich. Our first date was at a drag strip car race….very romantic…
He is like your hubby when it comes to lipstick. He could care less if I wear make-up. He loves me for the real me. Of course, I don’t go out without make-up on, except for yesterday morning watching the sun rise.
I love that you can make such an interesting story out of a tube of lipstick. I wear clinque lipstick, mostly the earthtones, but I will have to check out the name and get back to you!
1. I know exactly. I wonder if I made a blog post … if it would all be wonderfully romantic seeming, considering there’s a divorce in the middle of the story. 🙂 Short story: Our mutual friend recommended that I go watch Dawg’s Cereal Wednesday videos, and I got hooked on the very first one. 6 months later I met him as just a friend to do our first Cereal Wednesday together in the airport. 3 months later I professed my crush for him and the rest is history. The first time he came to Vermont to see me he admitted that I made him throw up from nerves when we met at the airport, but he did it when I was getting off the plane so I didn’t see it happen.
2. I don’t wear lipstick, so I am of no help here.
You and Barry are absolutely adorable together. You are another wonderful example for me and Dawg to live by.
What a great beginning! plus, love the name of the color of that lipstick. I have a throbbing headache right now, so I will just give you the quick answer – yup, I remember when my life changed direction – I bought a pc for home in 1995. 🙂
Angela was having a 21st birthday part for Tony, one one my casual friends in a big social group. I knew him from English classes we took together as well as from hanging out with this group of friends. But I didn’t know him really well.
“An album is always in good taste,” I thought. So I headed to Beacon Records on North Main St. I had no idea of his musical taste. I happened upon “Pictures at an Exhibition” (Mussorgsky) redone in rock by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. I didn’t know much about the group, but thought it sounded interesting.
Same birthday. Tony’s sister, Donna, buys him two tickets to the Civic Center to see, you guessed it, Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. He thinks I’m a fan. I think I’m just someone to go with. We hit it off. Been married 32 years.
Clinique Tenderheart.
Who can resist a name like Tenderheart.