Ya Got It? FLAUNT IT!
It’s 103 degrees. The first day of summer.
I am on the 5th floor of a “charming” railroad flat — my man’s apartment on the lower east side.
However, small railroad flat equals = small windows. And small windows = smaller AC’s.
And I am hot.
I am very very hot.
But packing up to go to — where else — CONEY ISLAND, baby!
Every June. Every July. Every August — I make it over to the promised land.
The home to all those New Yawk Broads who know how to flaunt it.
Photos from top: Calvin Stark, Chae Kihn, Calvin Stark, Chae Kihn
Like them, I will not be wearing a one-piece bathing suit.
I want to feel my skin against the freezing Atlantic. Every inch of it I am legally allowed to expose. (grrrrrr)
And I will never say the words that a kinda famous editor / writer / podcaster — said at 60:
“I am of the age that — I will never get in a bathing suit.”
Or maybe she said — “I will never get in the water”— ‘cause of age, size, blah blah blah.
OK OK. It’s
She’s stylish. Smart. And co-hosts of one of the most addictive podcasts out there Everything Is Fine with — talking women and mid years — mostly how much it sucks — which makes it funny.Now, I am beyond mid years. I am with Debra Vance — enjoying and milking the last quarter. So maybe that’s the reason I no longer give a damn about showing it all … every last bit of it … ‘cause …
LOOK AT THESE BROADS!
But I was not always so free.
The women I find in Coney Island bring me back to my awakening. My first visit to Europe. The summer of 1975.
I am in my early 20’s and I am with baby sis, my fellow conquistador.
We’re visiting the beaches of France — we started with Nice. We ended with Nice. And we were prepared.
We dieted ourselves that spring to feel “okay” in our new prissy bikinis. We followed the rules:
Is my belly spilling over my top? (ALWAYS)
Do my tits look humungous? (They DO)
Do her black pubes look odd with her flaxen blonde hair.
(Yes. It’s called SEXY)
Do I have to shave my underarms yet again? (YES)
Do I have to shave my legs — again? (YES)
Do I have enough tanning lotion to “block” sun? (NEVER)
Does my bush show? (YES YES YES)
We pruned, plucked, sanitized, trimmed, sucked it all in — and hit the beaches.
And then it happened.
The old broads were everywhere.
And they ruled.
The swaggering overblown overflowing confidence. The presence of these Glorious Broads — of all ages — from 40 to 90 — put our 20-year-old selves to shame.
They owned that beach. They owned all beaches.
There were no tops, tits hanging, stomachs drooping, deep bronzed tans delighted in, hair bits askew — everywhere.
Heads up.
Tits out.
They were a bit gritty. A bit brassy. And … au naturale!
And were over the moon glamour to us … to everyone.
The power of them.
I am not gonna say the lessons we learned that summer stayed with us for a lifetime. We got caught up with perfection again. I forgive us.
But I am gonna say we’re making a comeback to lovin who we are now in both of our lives.
And I’m going out to Coney Island to remind myself of our New Yawk Brand …
Unabashed. Unapologetic. In-your-face flesh.
Flaunt it, Baby!
BACK TO EUROPE. THIS TIME. SICILY.
Sharing a fun interview with Jo Piazza, author of the cantputdown summer hit “The Sicilian Inheritance.”
Those old Glorious Broads of Sicily taught HER a lesson — bring it on… 60, 70, 80, 90 …
BIG SICILIAN ENERGY - ’s passing it on to her
baby girls.
Don’t fall for the bullshit out there.
Jump into the sea!
What a great piece. Love it!!!!!!!!!
Love this! I'm packing for a beach trip and just tried on last year's swimsuits. I'm 65, and my body is a little softer this summer. I'm noticing a few more dimples than last summer. It's a process, y'all! When I arrive on the beach, my plan is to practice getting in my body and feeling the breeze on my neck, the sun on my skin, and the sand under my feet every time I notice that I am objectifying my body or being judgy. In other words, I plan to enjoy myself and my body one more time.