For the Love of Corsets

I have a little saying...that if it weren't for corsets, I wouldn't be here. It's true!

Back in 1874, I believe it was, my great grandmother Anna Mae West (she went by Mae. heh) was quite a little heart-breaker. Having just broken things off with her beau, she went to a barn dance with another fellow, causing said jilted beau to go into a rage. He followed her home, and confronted her, ultimately shooting her with a pistol.

She fell to the ground, so the cad turned the pistol on himself and blew his brains out. Mae then awoke to find him dead and it was determined that the ball from the pistol had hit the steel stay in her corset, saving her life. She wasn't hurt - she had simply passed out from fright.

We're not sure, but we think the fellow she'd gone to the dance with was my great grandpa as they were married shortly after this.

My mom still has the original newspaper clipping. The title is something along the lines of "Lovers Quarrel Ends in Tragedy." It recounts the details of what happened, and stated that Anna Mae suffered a "severe nervous shock."

I don't think it's only for this reason that I have a thing for corsets, though. I love them. Simply stated, they are just hot. I need to get a new one, really. Mine is white (zzzzzz) and there are so many others that are just so much prettier.

I want one like this one:

As a matter of fact, I want the whole outfit. Meow.
What do you think?
Yeah, that's the ticket...