Welcome to the wonderful world of
Mr. Alexander.
the indefinite article...
I never thought that I'd even imagine myself about to do such a thing... why would I ever dream of buying one now, after all these years. I'd vowed, when I threw my last one into the trash, that I'd never EVER own another, much less actually pay money for one. After all, every single one in my life had represented something that I hated, one organization or another.... some element of repression of taste and style, some demand to conform. It was the only thing I had ever had to wear that could even define my character and degree of social achievement in it's absence - as though NOT wearing the darn thing could demonstrate my entire personality and my attitudes to life and those around me. I had never liked the concept of being so visibly and uncontrollably open to misinterpretation by anyone foolhardy enough to draw such conclusions and so, the last time that I had to wear one was the last time I chose to. Until now.
I don't even really know what it was that had prompted such a thing.
My first child had just burst into our world and showed no signs whatsoever of being as much of a dupe for the "Good ol' Boy" networks as her father's generation and those before me. Daughter and mother were resting peacefully and I had taken the opportunity to go and buy presents to mark the birth. Walking down Detroit's hippest street had brought me face to face with everything from handmade silver jewelry to imported tapestries.. and none of it had swayed me until this one window.... over there in the back corner... behind the lava lamp.
Inside the shop, I let it lay across my hands, feeling the silk and the shape. It had pigs on it ... great fat pigs, pink on a gold and green background. I slipped it on, to see if perhaps it wouldn't fit and I could pass on the entire experience and just buy a plant and a bracelet. But we melded immediately, me and the pigs. Looking at myself, bedecked in contented looking porkers, I felt strangely freed, unusually self confident. The old ways were gone and the pigs told me that I was no longer painting a picture to the world of someone I wasn't...the stripes and plains and tartans....they were all someone else, someone who suited such things, but not me... my world had always been meant to be seen as pink pigs... pigs on green and gold.... silken pigs.
I paid for it, and headed back to see my new daughter... and my beautiful wife. I had no bracelet or plant, no jewelry or lamp. I had something better, something to show my daughter - and anyone else who cared to look - exactly who her daddy was..what he thought... what his attitudes and styles were.
I didn't know if she'd be proud, same for my wife.. she might be horrified at the sight, but I no longer cared one whit for the sartorial opinions of others, not even those others who were to share my entire life.
I didn't need to. Resplendent in my new symbol of sassy, I bent to kiss my wife and child.
They looked up at me and smiled....my wife spoke... for both of them.
"Nice tie," she said... "it's you."
I still have it... it's still me.
If you found any of these pieces educational or at least amusing, drop a note of encouragement to
and maybe more such pieces will appear....
and
Remember to hug your Kids
To return to the Mr. Alexander main page
| This Inner Zine site is owned by Mr. Alexander. Want to join the Inner Zine? |
|---|