Yup, cousin was right, life begins at 50. If you let it.
Surgeon was as needy and unpredictable as always, but mostly I got to work with his most capable fellow, and let the rest of the chips fall as they may. Kept the music going (one of those online services, on the Talking Heads station, a good, odd variety, with some Bowie and ska.) Our room "won." Which is our way of saying we were the last one going. No matter, wasn't really late.
Last week I realized that all my shorts were a decade old, and one in particular needed to be thrown away completely. Leaving me with one. So I shopped, and came up utterly empty. Women's clothes have always been a tribulation for me. And I've gone to the men's department more than once. Women's shorts these days are either supercute-blech, very short, or capris. Capris* only look good on Audrey Hepburn or a young Mary Tyler Moore, I am neither. Or they were for women much larger in the middle than I am. What few shorts were more or less age-appropriate, all had either very short rises, simply would not go on, or were huge on my waist - all the exact same size, mind. None felt like the old ones, or were bearable in the hot weather I need them for.
So I went to the men's section. The woman at the changing room was sympathetic and helpful, as I had no idea what size I would be. Took a half dozen tries, but the last one was a winner, and I simply got another one the same, different plaid.
To me, both look a bit, well, girly. For a young man, at least. They fit me nicely on my waist and fall nicely from there. Sturdy, comfortable, with good pockets. And drastically on sale. Should keep me for a good number of years.
*Popular in this area because they are long enough to cover the holy underwear.
9 comments:
I have so many pairs of shorts. This hit a nerve. I wear them as work attire; one advantage of construction business. I short-sorted this past weekend, keeping only those that currently fit (I fluctuate) and those that I had worn in the last two summers. I donated those that still fit but were too short to be appropriate now. Wrenching decisions of farewell to a time that has gone by. (Alright, in truth, I did keep some that are too short for public consumption, but worth keeping in case we ever get that island vacation).
ER,
Oh, you have my complete sympathy. But, seriously, men's shorts, cheaper, sturdier, longer, faster, funnier... ok, maybe not some of those things.
My shorts that I have worn for a decade are my proof of body stability, no diets in my future.
shorts! shorts! I have not worn shorts for about, er, 10 years, no wait, 14 years. The last time I looked good in shorts was almost 40 years ago when I wore red velvet hot-pants. Doubt I will ever wear them again unless for sport. No, give me a long, flouncy skirt any day, covers a multitude of sins and skins and is much more comfy...
But I like your plaids...
They look just right for you, bravo!
Indeed, clothes shopping can often be a chore. I'm glad you ended up finding what you found.
If life begins at 50, I've got eleven years to go.
That you kept your cool during what could arguably have been a difficult day is great. This is normally a sign of having recently had sufficient sleep.
Interesting that to 'win' one comes in last.
Mouse in red velvet hot pants, are there photos?
I have a few skirts, but that is more effective in hot damp climates. In the heat, having reliable backofthigh coverage saves burned skin. And, I've just always worn shorts.
Phil,
There really is a sense of life being easier to handle. And I should have but " " around the win. "WIN" ironically. Or cynically. Possibly both.
Men's shorts are by far the best and more appropriate for stomping through fields and hosing down dogs these days ...I also had my share of hotpants wearing, black satin I seem to remember...
yes men's shorts for me too - always!! these look good
Still reeling about the holy underwear, I never knew...
My best pair of shorts came from a men's wear shop in Wollongong, Australia, where I found myself travelling without a decent pair of shorts, they are plaid, solidly made with good pockets, a wide elastic and drawstring waist. My next best were my niece's old PE (PT, sports, games...?) shorts which I must have acquired about 20 years ago when she left school, not quite sure why I got them but I imagine PE was such an ordeal for her that she never wanted to see them again. She certainly wouldn't be able to get into them now but I still can. Those are plain black and very light and comfortable but with no pockets and a bit too short to go about in public really, but great for the garden.
In fact I don't really wear shorts out much but, like Mouse, prefer floaty crinkly skirts if it's that hot I must get my legs out. However, as I've seldom got around to doing anything about taking the hair off them that doesn't happen all that often (or perhaps the inverse is true, and I don't depilate because I don't uncover my legs much...) and I stick with floaty crinkly trousers instead. And as north-western Europe seems to have abandoned summer weather for the foreseeable it doesn't matter much.
I remember my mum made me a lovely pair of gold needlecord hot pants (when that term meant a kind of dungaree-shorts arrangement) when I was about 9.
All of which is probably far more than you needed or wanted to know.
Lucy,
You can leave any length comment you like, anytime.
I preferred skirts in Boston, where it is more humid and I walked more. When I am in the car more, then walking, then in and out of the car, I think shorts work better. Or working around the house or garden, shorts.
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