So, I have this red dress that I got in Miami on a ‘hope to meet my soul mate' excursion. Needless to say, I did not meet my soul mate on that trip but I did find the bate. My ‘I’m Really Not a Waitress’ OPI red dress is so tight, every time I try to zip up I think, for sure, either the zipper is going to rip or I’m going to catch my skin in it. The shiny fabric has just enough spandex to hug every curve and is cut in such a way that distributes any curves in the wrong places to the right places. Plus, the sweeping off the shoulders neckline just adds to the minx factor. It really is a winner. If I could wear it to all sporting events I attended, I’d be married by now.

I wore it in public for the first time 2 years ago to a family charity event. The majority of my audience was married with children so, that didn’t help my cause. It traveled with me to every place I moved and almost every vacation since I’ve owned it in hopes the opportunity to wear it again would present itself. Alas, to no avail, until Australian Day.

My friend, Alison, called me on a whim. It was mid-week and we were having blizzard-like conditions. You could barely see two feet in front of you it was so blustery with snow and wind. Boston was practically shut down. She scored an extra ticket (because of the weather) to a black tie Australian wine tasting event at the Park Plaza and wondered if a) I would want to go in two hours and b) if I had an outfit. Well, as luck would have it, not only did I have an outfit but I was at the salon for my 5-week touch up. Of course, I said, “Hell to the ya! See you at 7!”

My biggest decision was, “Do I wear my snow boots?” Since I was determined to meet my soul mate this time, I decided that was just too much baggage. So, I compromised with tights and carefully navigated my way to the corner in 4” black patent, strappy platforms to hail a cab.

I got there one course late and we were sitting at the same table as the wine maker. Alison graciously saved my first course and glass of wine that went with it so I would not only be able to intelligently discuss the wines later but also hit ‘drunk’ around the same time she did. It worked. As the night rolled on, we made friends with the wine makers and the waiters. So, while everyone else at the party consumed the equivalent of one bottle of wine, we each consumed 2-3.

In fact, we were so much fun, the wine maker and his wife invited us for champagne in the bar after the event. At that point, no one had made a comment about my dress so, I decided to take matters in my own hands. My bright idea consisted of a carefully constructed text but, I had to consider the driving conditions so, my only choice was another city dweller.

Well, can I just tell you? I may not have met my soul mate but I did end up in a 5-story brownstone on Marlborough Street next door to Tom and Giselle. So, kudos to the red dress, I think I’m getting closer.