Gary+Arpin+(Diary)


 * 1) **My sisters have cautioned me not to incline mother to lace me into the last set as they are most restrictive, and although I have seen how uncomfortable they appear while wearing theirs I am very curious about how they feel.**
 * 2) **Immediately when the corsetiere drew my laces in I could tell I would enjoy then, the feel of their tightness against my skin and the new posture it induced was wonderful. I feel slightly disappointed that my mother would not allow me laced down more then she will, as I long to quickly develop a waist like my sisters, but mother said to be patient.**
 * 3) **I am surprised that I must adjust more then expected to my stays. As hard as I try to have the grace of my sisters the stiffness of my spine and the restriction of my shoulder braces cause me to stumble often.**
 * 4) **Before we dressed for breakfast my sisters each carefully inspected my narrowed waist and helped me practice properly sitting and walking, the thrill of them accepting me as other then a baby was most marvelous**
 * 5) **In some regard I was disappointed when mother declined my requests to be tightened like my sisters before we dressed for supper, but my spine and shoulders are rather sore and I understand her reasoning**
 * 6) **This morning was wonderfully exciting as mother laced me down another inch. [it appears she now has a three inch reduction, from 24 inches I think] I was surprised but very pleased after she tightened my lacings she instructed me to stay in my house coat instead of getting dressed, and she returned a few minutes later and again tightened them.**
 * 7) **I was startled how harshly she had to pull to obtain this and how tautly it binds me, but love the sight of my waist now... We went to breakfast at a neighbor's house and I was honored by the comments of my mother's friends about my lady like appearance and poise.**
 * 8) **I do wish mother would release my shoulder straps at least some times, as holding my shoulders back in such a stiff position is causing some pain in my neck and shoulders. I have asked her repeatedly but she insures me it is for my best interest, that I grow straight and tall... At times I long to run and frolic as I used to, but I completely love being treated as a lady and the acceptance of everyone.**
 * 9) **As soon as mother began to lace me in I could tell the corsets would be very confining, reaching from very low below my hip bones to pinching my armpits. Just when I thought she was done tightening my laces she instructed me to stretch to my toes and grasp as high as possible on her bedpost then harshly laced me down another 2 inches... We are being on our best behavior hoping mother will not force us to remain in these overnight.**
 * 10) **These corsets are much more confining then I could have imagined my entire torso is immobilized and I feel fatigued after an almost sleepless night... With any exertion I feel as if my breath has been robbed almost to feeling faint and sitting is very difficult as the busk pinches into my groin and ribs**
 * 11) **We were all most thankful this morning when mother finally removed our correction corsets, a bath and getting into my regular corsets felt most wonderful.**
 * 12) **Although I feel most humbled by my time so tightly laced I was thrilled that mother, almost by accident laced me down to 20 inches... As much as I have longed for sleeping stays like my sisters wear I am reconsidering how badly I want then now as retiring laced in the correction corsets was most uncomfortable.**
 * 13) **I have had to chastise myself several times for the jealousy I have felt toward her, she has only had her stays slightly longer then I but has already reduced her waist 5 inches [I think to 19 inches] and now has very mature hips.**
 * 14) **She is also permitted to wear night stays which she gives credit for her wonderful figure... I hope mother is relenting regarding night stays, on information that Francis sleeps in them she seems to be reflecting.**
 * 15) **I was most pleasantly surprised this afternoon when a parcel was delivered containing my sleeping stays... I am very hopeful mother will remove my correction corsets shortly, not only because of the continued discomfort but such that I may begin wearing them... I indeed wish we had not angered mother so much... she thankfully released us this morning but only long enough to bathe and immediately relaced us. I am finding myself becoming light headed less then I had, but even the exertion of climbing the stairs takes my breath.**
 * 16) **My regular stays feel wonderfully light and almost loose on my waist despite mother lacing me down to 19 inches... although we now indeed know better mother proceeded to weave a piece of straw into our knots and repeated her caution regarding tampering with it.**
 * Oct. 23 1883**