Sunday, July 06, 2008

Welcome To Detroit



When I was a car show model, all I remember about that horrible couple of weeks was snippets of Etta James' "At Last" playing through Cobo Hall. I'd been talked into this gig by a social worker friend, a taller, much more attractive girl who had a lot more stamina than I did and didn't succumb to the nosebleeds that plagued me (so model-like, but without the cocaine!) as I stood for hours in the overheated building while it snowed and snowed and snowed outside, twenty-eight inches to be sure. We'd take the time off from the hell that was our social work job, make more money in a couple of weeks than we did in months in the snakepit of a dementia clinic/community outreach center and no one would be any worse for the wear. Wrong! By day two, I could barely walk, by day three, I'd forgotten almost everything I knew in the English language except, Welcome to Detroit!

Being a model sounds like a glamour job, and I'm sure it is for those who work at Vogue. The best I ever did was a K-Mart ad circular which is just not the same thing. It's mostly people telling you what's wrong with you and how you'll do okay if you hide this and arrange that and look natural while you're doing it, like you're having a happy pleasant daydream and always sat around in teeny-tiny swimsuits looking like you're having a great time. I won't even discuss the Detroit Boat Show. But in ways, it was a dream job for me; I'd become quite good at looking like things didn't hurt or that being uncomfortable was just so great. When I got back to social work, I felt relief like never before; I was with my people who were hurting, and I didn't have to pretend because I really did care and in a few rare instances, could make things a little better.

Michelle's Spell of the Day
"Most of the songs I sing have that blues feeling in it. They have that sorry feeling. And I don't know what I'm sorry about. I don't." Etta James

Cocktail Hour
Drinking holiday weekend suggestion: Take a long long nap to recover from any and all horrors inflicted on the fourth!

Benedictions and Maledictions
Happy Sunday!

7 comments:

laughingwolf said...

few betta than etta ;)

but hearing the same thing, hours on end? fugheddaboudit!

Charles Gramlich said...

It's interesting to see things from the other side. I know some young women who should probably read about your modeling experience. But then again, pretty much no one learns anything without experiencing it themselves. And sometimes not even then.

Laura Benedict said...

What a great story. P and I were long-addicted to America's Next Top Model and on there, modeling looks like gold-plated drudgery even with Tyra's fabulous model crib and the trips to foreign lands.

I have to hear about the Detroit Boat Show!

the walking man said...

"I didn't have to pretend because I really did care and in a few rare instances, could make things a little better."...the being able to care puts you ten steps ahead being able to make things better...well that's measured in miles.

Anonymous said...

Watch out for those long naps!!!--Irving Washington

Anonymous said...

Even NASCAR is becoming "green". For instance, next year, in an attempt to reach out to the carbon footprint people, the race cars will not only have their speeds posted, but also their mpg's.--Rush L.

chris said...

People telling you what is wrong with you ! We all know what an opinion is compared to,we all have one.
Heel's I have often wondered how you Ladies could stand to wear them so much,sexy they can be, but ouch.
It takes a big hearted person to care, and really mean it. Help those who seek it, they may straighten up their lives.