Get
Rid of the Blues With Jeans
Jackie
K. Cooper
For
me consistency is a reassuring way to be. In other words I am
a creature of habit. I love routine, and hate change. In this
mood and mode I have lived my life. Nowhere has this been more
evident than in the way I selected my clothes. I dressed nicely
but samely, if samely can be a word.
I
think it was in college that I discovered khaki pants. There was
a guy who lived down the hall from me and he wore khaki pants
all the time. His name was Murk Bannister, full name John Murchison
Bannister. He was distinct, and he was tweedy. He wore blazers
with patches on the elbows, and he wore oxford cloth shirts. I
had never seen anyone dress like this, and so I emulated him to
some degree. In short I started wearing khaki pants.
Even
after I was out of college I continued to wear khaki pants. I
became fixated on them. When I entered the workforce I formulated
a uniform of sorts. I wore a blue or white oxford cloth shirt,
a striped tie, a blue blazer, brown loafers, and khaki pants.
I wore that just about every day for thirty years. To say I was
in a rut is like saying ice is cold.
My
wife used to look in my side of the closet and just shake her
head. There were pair after pair of khaki pants hanging side by
side on the bottom level, and at the top was a collection of blue
and white shirts. I always had at least two blue blazers to wear
and two pairs of brown loafers. Picking out my clothes for each
day was not difficult in the least.
This
stylized way of dressing continued up till a few weeks ago. It
ended because my friend Dale Cramer (author of LEVI'S WILL) and
I were both invited to speak at an event. I showed up in my khaki,
blazer ensemble. Dale showed up in blue blazer, white shirt, and
jeans. He looked cool and comfortable. He also looked like a writer.
I looked like a writer's uncle.
The
next day I told my wife about what Dale had worn. She said it
sounded nice. I had expected her to have a more forceful opinion
about it but nice was all she said. Still the next time I was
invited to an event as a writer, she suggested we get something
new for me to wear.
At
the Mall she suggested jeans. I immediately said no. I mean it
was okay for Dale to wear them but Dale isn't paunchy like me.
I could just imagine me blimplike in a pair of jeans - not a pretty
picture. But my wife persisted and finally I gave in and tried
on a pair of jeans. Just as I had imagined, I looked blimplike.
When
I got home I put them aside and forgot about them - until it was
time to get dressed for the event. Curiosity got the better of
me and I pulled on a white shirt, stepped into the jeans, and
added a blue blazer. Eureka, I had found a new me! I immediately
felt younger, handsomer, slimmer, and more writer-ish. It was
amazing.
Today
I am living in the world of jeans. I wear them just about everywhere
(okay, not to church), and I feel confident and happy. I have
chased the blues away with jeans. I am out of my khaki rut and
into the world of denim.
The
moral here is that life can change no matter what your age. Call
it a mid-life crisis, or just call it getting out of a rut. My
jeans have changed my life, and when I get that new red sportscar
my transformation will be complete.
***
Jackie
K. Cooper was born in South Carolina and now lives in Georgia.
He is familiar to people living in the middle Georgia area as
the "entertainment man" since his entertainment reviews
run in newspapers and are shown on television there. His short
stories have been used as commentary on Georgia Public Radio.
He also keeps active appearing as an after dinner speaker for
various events.
Cooper
has lived an exceptionally interesting life and portions of it
are contained in his first book Journey of a Gentle Southern
Man. The journey continued in Chances and Choices.
Jackie's
first two books, Journey of a Gentle Southern Man
and Chances and Choices, were reprinted and published
by Mercer University Press in July 2004. His third book Halfway
Home was published by Mercer University Press in October
2004.
Cooper's
fourth book, released in 2006, is The Bookbinder.
Visit
his website, or email
Jackie
©
Jackie K. Cooper