Monday, Jan. 21, 2002
“My mother insisted on buying all my clothes until I was 18, much the same way
my father cut my hair in order to prevent shagginess and the use of pomade,
which he called ‘Satan’s lubricant.’
Shopping with my mother was even worse, especially when we had to shop for
pants. She would pick out very unfashionable courderoy or canvas pants and
made me try on every pair, even the same brands that were the same size as
those I just tried on.
I would have to come out and walk around the store in each pair, first in shoes,
then barefoot to make sure there was no discrepancy because of the shoes.
She would then tug at the pants here and there and invariably say they were
extremely baggy in the crotch. She would yell to everyone in the store, ‘These
are very baggy in the crotch. Do you have these in the same size with a much
smaller crotch?’
It was very embarrassing and hard to forgive in those days, but as I grow older
I’m able to look back and laugh at the foibles of those mother-son pants
shopping trips.
I must say, however, I’m still not able to fondly recall the one instance we
shopped for condoms together. I don’t think I ever will.”
“Pants”
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