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The Basic Black Dress Skit, updated 2012

Basic Black Dress Written by Alice Rice updated by Gail Fitzpatrick 2012 Fort Gordon Spouse and Civilian Club The original text was written by Alice H. Rice when she was the spouse of a young lieutenant in the 50′s…. Good afternoon… Today is the day we are going to present a show edifying… That we are just dying to bring you their graphic comment On the unique society and stylish variety Of the fashionable service spouse. We invite your attention to affectionate mention Of moments highlighting our life. A new world began when she captured her man And married into the service. 1 ENTER BRIDE When she was a bride she trembled inside At the glory and glamour before her She’s fresh as the flowers she carries With a veil of champagne lace gives aura of grace Oh, lucky’s the man that she marries She dreams of paradise and mansions (with maids) And world-wide travels she plans As she executes her plan (Exit Bride) She promised her labors to him and the military’s demands. With prospects so pleasant and each wedding present She arrives at her first duty station where she finds worthy functions And coffees and luncheons just a-waiting her par-tic-i-pation. A large wardrobe she lacks, but she quickly unpacks, Thinking “What is the right thing to dress in?” 2 ENTER HEROINE A service wife knows that the proper clothes Help create the proper impression What might stand the test? Basic….simple is best For any occasion. Of any persuasion? This number would do, she is sure. Now THIS may I stress is a basic black dress, Clean-lined, unadorned, sim-plici-ty, either wear it as such Or add a personal touch (point to bow) for it’s famous for its du-licity. Well, she learns husband’s routine of PT and late nights, And how to wash ACU’s, (Exit Heroine) She arises each day 3 ENTER REVEILLE Like a fresh bouquet to cheer him off to “ his day” The day he “takes reveille” you can take it from me… That’s the day…she needs the car! But even at dawn, she knows what to put on You never know who you might see! Bright-eyed and astute, she inspires him and all his platoon. (Exit Reveille) FTX and S-3 TDY and IG soon are a part of her vo-cab-ulary. She learns to stand at retreat 4 ENTER HOUSEKEEPING And how to buy meat at the commissary. And here is her Basic Black Adorning the housecleaning mess A handkerchief chic, an apron so sleek Accessorize her with finesse. The service spouse knows how to utilize clothes So each hour of the day she has style, Her housecleaning duty will find this beauty Looking sharp whatever the trial. (Exit Housekeeping) With engraved calling cards she delivers regards To the CO staying “inside an hour” When the call is returned, she is somewhat concerned For they’ve caught her taking a shower! 5 ENTER SHOWER But to this sequel she’s more than equal She appears with her usual tact. Indeed her solution Is to smile and hope they will smile back? This terry creation will cause a sensation When teamed with savoir faire An impression eternal remains with the Colonel Who’s received by this hostess so rare. (Exit Shower) For well-rounded fun, she’ll not be outdone 6 ENTER sporty The service wife’s athletic She excels in all sports, at Bunco table and courts… In costume co-pa-setic. She serves looking spiffy prepared in a jiffy In her flexible favorite-guess! With shoes that are flat and a jaunty small hat, And…she’s wearing the Basic Black ! (Exit sporty) Through farewells and greetings, 7 ENTER PREGNANT And dozens of meetings, she volunteers without hesitation Her life’s neat and exact ‘til she gets in the act Of producing the next generation. Yes, there comes a time in every climb When the Basic Black just won’t do it That’s the time when it’ll get snug in the middle. What’s the meaning of this? She knew it! But she’s still just as pretty and pert, She runs out and shops for lots of cute tops And appears in a Basic Black Skirt! (Exit Pregnant) Then once a month a spouses’ club luncheon Takes place at the club 8 ENTER LUNCHEON Which everyone goes to in frills, gloves and hose too To show off her fanciest duds. In chapeau and furs the honors are hers She achieves a chic undeniable. Have you recognized it? No, she has disguised it. And dramatized good, old Reliable. Now I ask: Did you ever know a woman more clever Than the service wife I profess? Completely adaptable, even unflappable, Both she and her Basic Black Dress. When her flowers have blooms, When she’s curtained each room And made home out of government quarters. (Exit Luncheon) Here’s a very good chance, He’ll come home one night with orders! On civilian sod he goes “abroad” As the service wife goes “overseas” 9 ENTER MOVING She packs, store hold and ship ‘til she’s ready to flip But, once off, she travels with ease In the travelling scrimmage she maintains the image Of cosmopolitan cool. Bent to her needs her Basic Black leads From TSA and customs. A Jewel! With kids, pet and sack and the babe on her back With baggage and luggage and hope Smoothest trip of her life, she’s a service wife (Exit Moving) And there’s NOTHING with which she can’t cope. Now what one wears to social affairs Should be clarified by invitation But….what is normal if it says, “semi-formal?” She might find an outfit to fill all occasions Or a modest suit is awfully cute 10 ENTER Though not semi-formal precisely Yes, some do-it-up brown, in a sexy sleek gown; Some opt for the casual look. Each is sure she’s correct but a glance circumspect Makes each wonder if she mistook, But the greatest success is the Basic Black Dress 11 ENTER PERFECT Not too much, not too little, just right. She has others smiling, this woman admiring She’s turned out for a wonderful night It’s reputation-uphold it’s unparalleled! And she hasn’t exhausted it yet. Let me emphasize ladies, the point of the day is (Exit Heroine and Luncheon) This dress is a venerable pet. (Exit Perfect) She wore it for years, through laughter and tears As she sat out the deployment. She wore it to yell, Honey it’s you….in Hon-o-lu-lu 12 ENTER R&R When she met him for R&R As a waiting wife she suspended her life ‘Til he came home again to her arms As the children grew bigger a slight shift in her figure Enhanced her maturing charms. Years fly by…then alas an era has passed. And the service just isn’t the same… In manner appealing, traditions are failing And now it’s a different game. Too the milieu of fashion once a feminine passion And all those old loves, the big hats and white gloves Have succumbed to more informal clothes. After years as the best, the Basic Black Dress Was a dying institution. It had to be faced, it was being replaced By a trouser revolution. At first just acceptable 13 ENTER PANTSUIT Then more respectable ‘til now they are quite de riguer A lady in pants today can enhance A parade, a luncheon, a tour. Thus our service wife adapting her life Turns out in her Basic Black Slacks Nothing can faze her outfit with blazer Admiring attention attracts. (Exit Pantsuit) 14 Enter male spouse Let’s take a browsers to who else wears trousers let’s look at our counterpart , and have a heart to heart we see him at the coffee’s the FRG and Meetings basic black is his first choice for these meetings he is changing tradition, with his new mission we welcome him as our new addition as his spouse is away he saves the day cooks, cleans, mows and totes kids daily he is always ready and sharp never in the dark as he shows others his style in basic black So in this best of careers quickly run out the years. 15 ENTER Retired spouse In this wonderful service family, and her husband’s retired, And she’s ready for his retirement! She has traveled and twirled across half-the-world, Of fashion, an illuminary. But, what is more, her esprit de corps Has supported her man military. But mellowed and sage in her golden age She reflects on a life of success ENTER ALL And to what is this due. Need I tell you… It’s that one simple Basic Black Dress It adds to the elegance of life as she walks tall from her journey She mentors, advises and cheers on the spouses Of todays military her spouse is busy playing golf and fishing but she stands by the military spouse team, sharing the wealth of this special position elder to our military she continues to volunteer for many agencies and of course with zeal coaching from the sideline and always supporting the military spouse in the adventure of a lifetime we are all in the journey of supporting our soldiers and building up the family, welcome to all as we close our edition, of basic black, join the team, put on your pearls and know for sure, we are all on the same amazing team, the fabulous military spouse

e presence of the greatest

I can run but you are there to greet me , I can turn around to back up and you are there to encourage me to move. So I'm never alone better yet I'm in th

hat friendship for 34 years.

Back staber and best friend have the same amount of letters, thank God my best friend has always been there ready to listen and hug. So blessed to have t

@smilemakerjerse: It is refreshing when a door closes because it usually hits your pass in the ass. Good bye yesterday

life with an apology and respect.

Don't complain about things you're not willing to change. Love it!! So good bye to you who dump on my heart see you when you are ready to step into my

If you are absent during my struggle, don't expect to be present during my success

You can't change what you don't acknowledge (DR Phill)

Walk with eyes focus on the horizon not your next step. When we see the finish line in our mist we can fly over the hurdles with ease.

Come along with me and I will shoe you a new way to see the path

Hypocrite fun pass time for many

Look beyond the rain and clouds and you will see your rainbow

Growth in self will amaze your friends and annoy your haters

How can we truly smile when everyone around you suck? Easy pretend you are telling a story about how fun the present is, pass tense

: False friends are like our shadow,keeping close to us while we walk in the sunshine,but leaving us the instant we cross into the shade Bovee

The fun of daily life has to be measured by the excitement in your dAy. So what happens when things are boring?

When it gets tough in life its great when your surroundings keep you grounded. In the tornado all you need is an anchor not more hot air

Laughter is joy in motion

@smilemakerjerse: Live in such a way that you would be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip. Thank you will rogers for words of wisdom

@smilemakerjerse: Choose to change the changeable. Accept everything else willingly

No matter the task or situation. MY WILL is stronger than the struggle

It is a happy day when you realize that LOYALTY from true friends is the life jacket in your personal Titanic OH HAPPY DAY.

When time stands still for you do you take time to look around or do you look up and accept his hug?

Speed bumps they slow us down enough to protect us from a mishap.

Follow your bliss right into your JOY

The true self is conflicted and rarely can be honest and open even with itself.

It can be crazy when I do the right thing most of the time and people think they can step on me. Beware justice is sweet especially from my sight line.

d praise.

Inferior that is a self talk word that needs to be addressed and mailed out. True joy cannot have negative self talk but it should also not have inflate

d mission to teach my sisters daughters granddaughter Girls do this daily and you too will smile with joy daily. (To whine is to take the shine out of yo

ur smile).

I am smart fabulous full of beauty in and out and I make the world a better place. And that makes me a woman who teaches the world to love. My purpose an

When you are overcome by fear the best protection against the evil of fear is a prayer.

Real love is accepting other people the way they are without trying to change them. At times walking away from the co dependency is the change that is needed

A full day should always have 50 percent of it spent on Praise. And the other 50 percent spent on laughter.

lies on such a life changing day.

f my car all I can say was oh my God. It was a prayer not just for him but for the lady who sat in her car and caught her breath. May God bless both fami

In an instant it can be gone so treasure every moment as if it were your last. I watch someone die today. As I watched him fly through the air in front o

The face of humility is always walking away before a thank you can reach its ear because its true motive is selfless love.

Walk as if you have arrived even if you have only taken two steps. This is the beginning of a true joyous journey of life

When you listen for justice everything else is silent.

The brilliance your smile brings to the world can overshadow any obstacle thrown your way

Cuando el cielo llora me da mucha gracia saber que esta llorando conmigo.

ong they enhance your life. If even for a moment.

When the song is sung it is difficult to ignore the melody when the harmony is so powerful. Just like people they go in and out of your life and like a s