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Allison Larkin

Internationally Best-Selling Author

You are here: Home / 100 Things / This, however, is something to put up with

This, however, is something to put up with

September 25, 2008 Filed Under: 100 Things


# 24 – I wear the ugliest sweater known to man when I write.

When I saw Wonder Boys for the first time and got to the part where Michael Douglas wears that raggedy pink chenille robe while he’s writing, I almost died, because I do something very similar.

I bought the ugliest sweater known to man used from a thrift shop that sold clothes by the pound when I was in college. It was my “smoking sweater.” I bought it the sweater because I didn’t want to get my winter coat all stinky when Lady and I smoked Swisher Sweets on the dorm balcony. We took turns spitting over the railing, and thought being cigar smoking, lugie hocking girls made us so bad-assed.

I haven’t smoked a crappy cigar, or any cigar for that matter, in years and years and years and years. But the sweater gets lots of use. As soon as it gets cold around here, I throw my writing sweater on when I work.

It’s ESPRIT, probably circa 1988, made from acrylic yarn, about 5 sizes too big, and scratchy as all hell, but it’s really really warm. I guess it’s my security blanket or something. I’ve actually never really thought much about why I’m so attracted to my writing sweater. Maybe it reminds me of good times with Lady. Maybe it feels like my lifeline back to me when I’m spending time hanging out in someone else’s head. Maybe it’s a statement to myself that it doesn’t matter what I look like while I’m writing. Or maybe, I like it just because I like it.

On Tuesday, when my husband came home from work, I was wearing the sweater, which falls halfway to my knees, a pair of black and white running shorts, and big fluffy pink socks with black flip-flops. “Oh sweetie,” J said laughing, “Nice outfit.”

But damn, if I didn’t get some awesome work done on my April book on Tuesday. There’s magic in that sweater, I tell you.

#25 – I clean up real nice, I swear.

9 Comments

Comments

  1. nancypearlwannabe says

    September 25, 2008 at 5:27 pm

    Wow, maybe I need a smoking sweater! I haven’t smoke a clove cigarette for about 10 years, but just the scent of them brings me back to college evenings outside the library…

    Reply
  2. Noelle says

    September 25, 2008 at 6:50 pm

    I haven’t thought about Esprit in years. That was my favorite place to buy clothes for about a year sometime in the late 80’s.

    And I have a hoodie that I wear at work almost every day. But it doesn’t have the same charm at all.

    Reply
  3. The Modern Gal says

    September 25, 2008 at 11:40 pm

    Oh man, whatever happened to Esprit?

    I have to be absolutely comfortable to do my best writing, so I can support your sweater.

    Reply
  4. Mickey says

    September 26, 2008 at 3:15 pm

    I went through a cigar phase when I was 18-19. There is no clothing associated with it, though.

    Maybe I need a writing sweater.

    Reply
  5. Courtney says

    September 27, 2008 at 3:41 pm

    Wow, that is one ugly sweater! But I’m glad it brings you so much joy.

    Reply
  6. My home - My life says

    September 29, 2008 at 8:33 pm

    Thanks for stopping by my blog!

    Reply
  7. Wendy says

    September 30, 2008 at 12:26 am

    Can I borrow your sweater?? Maybe I’ll get some good writing ideas too. LOL.
    Thanks for stopping by my blog. Actually, maybe we could trade – my summer sandals for your sweater? Hmmmmmmm? O.K. maybe not.

    Reply
  8. Buzzings of a Queen Bee! says

    September 30, 2008 at 2:14 am

    That is awesome! I love that you have a sweater that you always wear, it is very comforting somehow. I bet you just love to curl up in it and work. Thanks for coming to visit me today, it is so nice to meet you! :)
    Carrie

    Reply
  9. Melissa says

    October 1, 2008 at 1:11 pm

    Thanks for coming by my blog. I adore your blog! I will be a regular visitor.

    Anyways, I have sweater that kinda reminds me of yours ~ it’s a little itchy, but oh so warm. I don’t wear it to write in though. I work in pj’s ~ as a matter of fact I live in pj’s.

    ~Falling leaves~
    Melissa

    Reply

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Internationally bestselling author of STAY, WHY CAN'T I BE YOU and SWIMMING FOR SUNLIGHT. THE PEOPLE WE KEEP coming from @gallerybooks on 8/3/2021

Allison Larkin
Hey, it’s me! #authorsofinstagram (📸: @larkin Hey, it’s me! #authorsofinstagram (📸: @larkinjeremyj)
Back at it, because I knew the longer I waited the Back at it, because I knew the longer I waited the harder it would be to get back at it. Sticking to wide trails with good visibility during wild boar piglet season. #trailrunning
A few days ago, I took this photo of turkeys while A few days ago, I took this photo of turkeys while I was out on a run, marveling at how wild animals do not seem to mind when they see me. Once, I almost bumped into a deer, the way a couple might meet-cute in a rom com. We just didn’t see each other. I’ve always thought it was a fun little quirk. Not even bunnies are afraid of me. But this afternoon on my run, I came up over a hill and was suddenly within fifteen feet of a wild boar. Thankfully, a year or two ago I got curious about the big traps that show up trailside around the bay, looked them up and learned about how fast, ruthlessly aggressive, and unpredictable a wild boar can be. Otherwise, I might have (stupidly) thought I was in the middle of another one of my Snow White moments and been all “Hello there, Mr. Pig! Look at you!” believing that I could quietly observe in wonder. Instead, I knew this was a bad situation. The boar grunted and moved to the center of the trail. It felt very ‘You shall not pass!’ But I did not want to pass. I wanted to get away. I backed slowly for a few moments and then turned and ran faster than I ever have in my whole life. I’ve since learned that there’s no way that boar chased me, because there’s no chance of outrunning a boar (climb a tree if you can). But I know that boar saw me and also wasn’t happy about the surprise, and I had a moment, racing back over the hills I’d just run — not daring to look behind me more than once or twice in fear I’d lose my footing — when I truly did not know what would happen. I’ve been in scary situations, but they were a different kind of scary. I don’t think I’ve ever flat out run for my life before, but that’s truly what I thought I was doing. Right now I am still full of adrenaline and also exhausted and so so thankful to be okay.
My lemon is a happy fox. #fruitfaces My lemon is a happy fox. #fruitfaces
I think there’s something about getting older an I think there’s something about getting older and reaching back to the core of who you are. I’ve always been at my happiest when I’m up in a tree.
Portrait of the bestest girl. Stella may be slowin Portrait of the bestest girl. Stella may be slowing down, but she’s still exceptionally curious. #dailystelladog #germanshepherd
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