I should have known it was going to be something special when two jovial girlfriends walked into the shop and one of them reminded me of my favorite aunt. The other one was a little younger, had longer hair, and immediately went to a corner of the shop feigning shopping, seemingly trying to avoid being any sort of center of attention.
“Auntie” came up to me, pointed sideways to her friend, and said, “She needs a bra.”
“She” didn’t react, so I said in a loud higher-pitched voice, “Is anyone looking for a bra today?” This got me a turn around, a sheepish shrug, and a, “Yes… I guess I am.”
She walked towards us in a more determined manner than I was expecting and looked me in the eyes with her incredible blues and said, “I’ve had reconstruction. I have the most trouble.” There was a pause and then, “It’s been a long time…”
All I said was, “OK. Let’s see what’s going on. We’ll find you something.”
And off to the dressing room we went. As she took off her shirt and I proceeded to do my normal “diagnostics,” she said, “I met you at your table at Race for the Cure. Not sure if you remember, but I thanked you for being here for woman like me.”
As a bra fitter, we sometimes get the “right” bra on the first try. Those stories are amazing in their own way, but the satisfaction of helping a women work through a series of bras, leading them down a path many have never tried before, really helping a woman find her bra, sharing in that process and experience…it’s unbelievably rewarding. It’s really something.
After a few try-ons, we found a bra that was fine. We both acknowledged that it was a lot better than what she came in wearing, but as women, we know that sometimes fine is enough…and sometimes it isn’t. Fine wasn’t going to cut it here. I sensed that she was asking – just asking for a bra would work for her and her body. I had just read recently that if you ask, it means you have hope. If she had hope, then I had hope. So in our silence, I asked too. I just asked. I just asked for a bra that would work.
A bra popped into my head that we hadn’t tried. It was strange because this particular bra totally made sense for her, yet I didn’t think of earlier. Bizarre. I love this bra. I praise this bra. It is an amazing solution for ladies wanting/needing no wire and a molded cup…and it works really well for firm breasts with a rounded shape. I said, “I’ll be right back.” I went to backroom, found a size for her, and brought it to the dressing room.
She was facing away from the mirror as she dutifully put her arms through the straps. I was behind her helping pull the bra into place as I do several times a day with other women that, for the most part, I don’t know. I clasped the back and then went to adjust the straps, but they looked fine. I went around to look at the front of her and do my normal adjustments of a little shift here, a little tightening or loosening there, and realized that none of that was needed. I took a step back and that’s when I started to cry.
Her eyes were darting, first in a confused way and then they got brighter –twinkling almost. I heard myself say quietly, “…and that’s why I opened a bra shop.”
She looked down at her chest and back up at me. I nodded to prompt her to the mirror, but she knew.
As she slowly turned, I felt my hands come together against my lips and my foot take another step back. She moved closer to the mirror staring at her reflection. She paused, and I witnessed her entire body relax, lighten, and become “owned.” And then, the declaration: “This is my bra.”
Her eyes moved to the right and rested on mine in the mirror’s reflection. She turned and hugged me with one of those hugs where the arms go all the way around you like you are inside a full circle. We thanked each other laughing about how thankful we both were…for life…for opportunity…for faith…for this bra.
When she walked into the shop, this woman and I knew only one thing about each other. I knew she was beautiful, and she knew I was capable. All it took was for one bra to bring us together so we could see it in ourselves.
So very grateful. Thank You.
Joy
