The Empress Has No Clothes

The New York Times today published "When All You Have Left Is Your Pride"--essentially that old adage 'fake til you make it'. Pride equates perseverance and, dare I say it, success in difficult times. A valuable lesson, especially as of late. I look into the mirror. Reflecting on myself is the only luxury I seem to have left these days.

This isn't exactly how I pictured making it into the Times. That woman they described? Yeah, it's me. They gave me some pearls in order to protect my identity. Little do they know, I need more than outdated fashion to hide.

Struggling through these first months of career reorientation, I find myself putting on my fancies to go to the grocery store for cat food. My daily dress rehearsal. I dress to seduce this new life, like I did those free drinks last night. I only hope that I can stave off the life-hangover better than the alcohol one.

I can't help but wonder, though, when I dash by, heels clicking resolutely, can you see my nightgown tucked under my coat? Do you notice that that jaunty hat really hides unwashed hair? Does my lipstick dazzle you, distracting you from the truth? Do my loud huffs and wrinkled brow read tough day of negotiations or tough day of silent rejections?