Today my husband
Joe and I are going to meet up with some friends to go out to Macy’s Flower
show. We go every year even though we know it’s just a ploy to get you into the
store, but they fill the place with gorgeous flowers and it smells amazing.
I got out of bed,
made us breakfast and got dressed. As usual, I had to wait an extra hour for
Joe to finish getting ready (a problem usually husbands face!) When he finally
finished, he comes out and asks “Well how do I look?” Oh god. Not this get-up
again. He’s standing at the entrance of our bedroom in a short, ruffled, pink,
thigh-length dress with big puffy sleeves and a peter pan collar. He’s paired
it with a petticoat for volume and bloomers for “modesty”. He finished the look
with white tights, black Mary Janes and a gray wig in curly ringlets.
I hesitate to
answer; I’m not sure what to say!
-“Uh, sweetie,
don’t you think it’s a little bit too much?”
-“Oh of course
not! You know the guys are gonna be all dolled up and I don’t want to miss
out!” he replied
I find it hard to
conceal my embarrassment, I can feel my face burning hot and blushing red. He
can clearly see I’m not ok with this. “It’s ok, I can dress down for today.” he
said, his voice cracking a little. This is the same back-and-forth we go
through every time and I can sense he’s giving up. As he turns around to
change, looking defeated, I realize something.
I married this
man, for better or for worse. All he wants to do is wear clothes that make him
feel happy and confident to spend the day with friends and here I am, acting
like a thirteen-year-old that doesn't want to be seen with her mom in public.
When I was thirteen, I’m sure I went through all these weird phases and mom
still stuck with me and took me out. She stuck through them because she loved
me. Why shouldn't I do the same for the man I love?
“Honey! Don’t
change… The outfit’s fine, keep it on.” He turns around, his dress and
petticoat twirling in response, his face beaming from joy. It was then that I
thought that although his style may not be my cup of tea, I’ll still set the
kettle for him every morning.
