"But She Has a New Hat!"
May. 20th, 2012 03:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bjarvisI was being touristy around San Francisco yesterday and had a great time. Alas, when I left DC last week, I forgot two things: my camera and a hat. While my phone takes pretty good outdoor pictures in good light, it's a lousy hat.
Per habit, I droppped by Worn Out West in my travels through the Castro and I found a hat with which I fell instantly in love. It was the only one of its style and to my shock it fit perfectly so I'm taking this as a very good omen. And it was only $16.
After I purchased it, I immediately put it on as I was stuffing my change into my wallet. The salescritter looked up, appeared startled and said, "That really looks great on you!" I'd expect that sort of thing from salesfolks before the sale, but not afterwards so I feeling quite pleased that my initial impression of the hat was shared by at least one other.
Later that same day, I ran into another couple of guys I know. Each one commented spontaneously how much the loved the hat. Great!
This morning, however, I noticed some odd behaviors by other people.
Few people have ever held a door open for me; certainly, I've never had anyone spontaneously jump up to get the door for me. At a crosswalk, all traffic stopped dead in three lanes and waved for me to cross at my leisure, even though I didn't have a walk signal. At the restaurant where I stopped for lunch, a mother admonished her two kids to make space for the gentleman approaching behind them. Curious.
When I figured it out, I almost spit Coke Classic across the table. With the white beard and the style of the hat, I suddenly look 65+ years old instead of 45. I'm suddenly getting the senior's courtesy benefit. Crap! (I wish I had noted the looks on the drivers' faces when I sprinted across the road instead of edging across slowly.)
So do I want to be seen as a spritely 70 year hold or a slovenly 45 year old?
Tough call.
Per habit, I droppped by Worn Out West in my travels through the Castro and I found a hat with which I fell instantly in love. It was the only one of its style and to my shock it fit perfectly so I'm taking this as a very good omen. And it was only $16.
After I purchased it, I immediately put it on as I was stuffing my change into my wallet. The salescritter looked up, appeared startled and said, "That really looks great on you!" I'd expect that sort of thing from salesfolks before the sale, but not afterwards so I feeling quite pleased that my initial impression of the hat was shared by at least one other.
Later that same day, I ran into another couple of guys I know. Each one commented spontaneously how much the loved the hat. Great!
This morning, however, I noticed some odd behaviors by other people.
Few people have ever held a door open for me; certainly, I've never had anyone spontaneously jump up to get the door for me. At a crosswalk, all traffic stopped dead in three lanes and waved for me to cross at my leisure, even though I didn't have a walk signal. At the restaurant where I stopped for lunch, a mother admonished her two kids to make space for the gentleman approaching behind them. Curious.
When I figured it out, I almost spit Coke Classic across the table. With the white beard and the style of the hat, I suddenly look 65+ years old instead of 45. I'm suddenly getting the senior's courtesy benefit. Crap! (I wish I had noted the looks on the drivers' faces when I sprinted across the road instead of edging across slowly.)
So do I want to be seen as a spritely 70 year hold or a slovenly 45 year old?
Tough call.
