All dressed up—and no place to go. That’s exactly how Rick and I felt last September, when our long-anticipated European cruise had to be cancelled.

Rick had purchased a new suit, I had bought several dresses to wear to the “formal dinners” onboard, and we were desperately trying to figure out how to cram all our “nicer clothes” into the one suitcase and one carry-on, each, along with all our other gear.

Then, just days before the scheduled departure, our travel plans were abruptly interrupted by Rick’s sudden hospitalization, and our “nicer clothes” were hung back up in the closet for “another time.”

Months passed, and no “special occasion” arose to merit me wrestling my body into pantyhose and heeled shoes. Or maybe I was still grieving the loss of the trip and just didn’t want to bother with dressing up.

But a couple weeks ago, when we decided to attend Tony Starlight’s Supper Club and Lounge in northeast Portland to see his Dean Martin Tribute, it was time to “put on the dog.” (For those of you who have no idea what it means, google that phrase!)

So Rick wore his dark blue pinstriped suit, and I put on my little black dress—the first one I’ve ever worn—and we went out for a night on the town.

Special occasion or not, I have no idea why we waited so long!