Something Happened in the Bloomie's Dressing Room!

I always knew my addiction to Bloomingdale’s would be my demise. The seeds of this passion began in childhood shopping trips with my mother, mostly to browse, pick out my favorites, and wait for sales. I was hooked. Beautify displays anticipated my needs every time. So frequent were my visits in adulthood, my husband teased that my car could drive there on its own.

So, it should come as no surprise, and with a touch of poetic justice, that the beginning of my physical demise occurred in a Bloomingdale’s dressing room, the proverbial fall, generating a cascade of physical damage.

My fall happened almost two months ago. I was standing on a small, raised platform in front of a three-way mirror to see the back of an outfit. When I was ready to step down, I grabbed onto the top of the mirror to steady myself. To my surprise, it was a freestanding mirror and tipped over along with me grabbing onto it. I felt myself fly, no fall, slow at first followed by a loud crash. Nothing cracked, thank God.

Lying on the carpeted floor with a three-way mirror blanketing me, I ran the foot to head inventory, ensuring nothing was broken. I could move all joints without pain. Relieved, embarrassed and a bit amused by the irony, I tried to get up. My shins were both bleeding and still stuck on the riser, throwing off my balance as I attempted to stand. The left side of my face had hit the carpet absorbing some of the force. Slowly, I rotated onto my back and one vertebra at a time, lifted myself off the floor.

Relieved there were no witnesses to this awful embarrassment, I figured it was one of those stories I’d take to my grave. Just a couple of band aids on my shins would do the trick.

But not so fast, girlie girl. A month later, one of the wounds on my shins became infected, requiring an explanation to my astonished children and a doctor’s visit. I thought I could tuck away the indignity after I finished the course of antibiotics and never talk about it again. 

But no…once again, Bloomie’s bad Karma swung my way. My left jaw continued to bother me. Long story short, the force of the fall fractured the root of a tooth that now needs to be removed. It will take months before a permanent fix will be constructed.

So, after the years of loyalty to Bloomingdales (even making it a favorite 1900’s destination in THREADBARE), all I have to show is an ugly gap in my lower mouth for all to view during my winter book tour in Florida.

When you see this toothless version of me, please smile and show compassion (I can afford dentistry). It goes without saying, that I now order my Bloomie’s purchases on-line - on sale, only.

I hope to see many of you during my 2026 book tour – it is a work in process and have room for more events if you’re seeking a dynamic, toothless speaker! Just reach out to me at Jane@janeloebrubin.com to schedule you book club Zoom or in person event.

XO - Jane

***

2026 EVENTS

January 22, 3:30 | Delray, Fl

Hadassah Chapter

Gleneagles Country Club

Threadbare discussion

January 16, 10:30 | Delray, Fl

Gleneagles Country Club

Over There - book club discussion

January 22, 9:30-11 | Boca Raton

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) - must register for event 

Over There - an immersive dive into WW1 through the characters in a novel

February 5, 10:30 | Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Frenchman Reserve

Book Talk • Over There

February 11, 10:30 | Boca Raton, Fl

PAP Fundraiser Luncheon

Woodfield Country Club

February 15th | 1:30, Zoom

Jewish Genealogy Society of Connecticut

March 13 - 15 | Fort Lauderdale, FL

Jewish Joy Con '26 - Author Exhibitor Table

Open to the Public

April 18th | 9 - 5

Morris Author Day - meet the author and book signing

Morris County Library, Hanover Ave.

Open to the Public

April 23rd | 11 am, Stanhope, NJ

Stanhope Borough Senior Citizens Club

Book Talk