One evening during the past Thanksgiving holiday I spent with my family in Memphis, my father was hungry, as was I.  No one else wanted supper, so we went over to Perkins (I know) where he had his usual ‘breakfast’.  It was fairly late Friday evening.  As everyone knows, Memphis, like most large cities has a large African-American majority.  Women started coming in from church, terribly well dressed.  They were happy.  Their clothes were expensive.  They had pride in themselves, their community, and their church.  I contrasted it to a group of skanky looking white women who were sitting in a corner.  They were clad in jeans, athletic shoes, their hair was stringy, and the looked dirty.  There was no apparent self-respect among those women.

Our society has reached the point where ‘comfortable’ has gone beyond casual and comfortable and now looks like the wearer has been dumpster-diving as a homeless wannabe.  Once upon a time when my mother and grandmother would make the comment about society dressing this way is indicative of a serious problem.  They always commented when a women dressed like this she had no respect for herself, others, or society.  I always thought they were a little over the top, but low and behold, I now agree. 

There are so many unfortunate aspects of this politically correct environment in which we live, and causal, messy, and provocative dress is just one of them.  It is now incorrect to demand a dress code and require people to dress properly and neatly with everything matching, no holes, piercing, visible tattoos, or genitalia.   Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to return to the days of girdles and stockings – constantly, but isn’t there compromise?  I like the idea of wearing a hat once in awhile, and having shoes that match an outfit. 

I know it sounds shallow, but it isn’t.  Dressing well, neat, and properly is a sign of respect for one’s self, associates, and where ever a person is going.  Noting annoys me more than watching people slouch into church at the 10:30 Sunday service looking like they were still out at the track or cleaning out the car-port.  I know the Good Lord doesn’t care about how we look, but how we look is a sign of respect to be shown to Him.

There in Memphis, I went over to the three women who were talking.  I introduced myself and mentioned how nice they looked and how nice it was to see someone dressing up for a church service.  They all agreed with me.  There is something about taking the time to make one’s self look presentable for a church service that is – special.  We also need to be setting an example for kids.  Nothing is worse than watching the girls in your Bible study tramp in week in and week out, in torn jeans, athletic shoes, stained blouses, and messy hair.  Where is the pride?

If we no longer have pride in our appearance, we turn into swarmy slobs,  how long is it going to be before we no longer have pride in our nation – oops, that’s already happened.  Guess Nana was right!

The bottom line is this.  I’m going to keep dressing nicely.  Don’t make fun of my mother’s mink coat.  The only reason I haven’t hauled my FUR out is it’s just too darn much trouble.  I reserve the right to wear jewelry, makeup, and look presentable.  I will, though, join the legions of women who have forsaken stockings, pantyhose, and knee-highs.  From what I can tell if the First Lady is doing it, so can I!  (It’s a West Texas, New Mexico thing I do believe).

What about you? 

THE GREAT CAT SOAP OPERA - THE FINAL ACT?

Little Kira is not only getting one kitten tomorrow, she is getting two!  One may end up living with a neighbor, and I do hope they take care of it.  Miss Piggy calico kitten has learned how to climb out of the nursery.  She has escaped twice this afternoon.  I just managed to save her from Rumsfeld once.  One of the little climbers will be going to his new home tomorrow (barring serious snowfall).  Mommy Cat is going to be a wreck tomorrow, but I may just haul her down to the vet for her surgery since I now know what is causing the outbreak of kitten-itis.   We also need to catch Little Joe fairly soon.  She’s starting to go into heat, and this Greek incest drama needs to come to a close.  I know I am being giddy with optimism, but maybe we can trap the father and get him to the vet – tomorrow. Then Bat Masterson needs to have the big snip job before he starts spraying.  Miss Piggy has the same personality as Bat Masterson.  Oh, have I mentioned she likes to watch FOX News.  When I rescued her from the toy poodle T-Rex jaws of Rumsfeld this afternoon and held her, she just sat there, her little head moving back and forth as she watched FOX!