A trip to the thrift shop accidentally puts Dan May in touch with his feminine side.
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So I was shopping at a thrift store, where, if you happen to be there at the right day and time, you can find some great designer label shirts. It’s hit or miss, but some of my favorite shirts have come from there. People with money will get rid of shirts they’ve worn once and I have no problem with paying $4 for something they paid $80 for. I’ll just wash it and I’ll be good to go.
Anyway, I grab a half dozens shirts from the Men’s XL rack and take them into the dressing room. And it’s my lucky day, because they all fit great and look great. I especially like this forest green one, great fabric and weight. Looks good on me, although there is slightly more fabric around the midsection than I would like. But hey, for $4, I can live with it.
So I gather up the ones I like, and start checking the labels, and when I get to my favorite one, the forest green number, I notice the label doesn’t have a name, it just has one word in capital letters:
“MATERNITY”
OK then. Well, isn’t that special. I look and feel great in a maternity top. Swell. Just absolutely great news.
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OK then. Well, isn’t that special. I look and feel great in a maternity top. Swell. Just absolutely great news. Someone obviously hung this women’s shirt, or blouse, as it were, on the wrong rack.
And I was the unsuspecting victim.
But to be honest with you, I’m very comfortable with my feminine side. For example, just a couple days ago, my wife was taking one of those Facebook quizzes, this one to determine what percentage “Girly” you are. They ask you twenty questions, like whether you prefer pink to green, or whether you like “Little House On The Prairie” better than “The A Team” and that provides them the necessary data to make the determination. So my wife took the quiz and she scored a 33%. She’s 33% “Girly.” And so then I took it.
And I scored a 38%.
Yep, I’m 38% “Girly.” I am 5% more “Girly” than my wife.
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Yep, I’m 38% “Girly.” I am 5% more “Girly” than my wife. I guess I’m not surprised, she does the bills and I do the cooking, which in another time, were considered either man or woman’s work. I like to shop and she hates it. I’ve spent more time in ONE day deciding what to wear than she spends in ONE year. And I DO like “Little House On The Prairie” thank you very much. However, this whole maternity top thing is delving into completely new territory.
Uncharted waters.
So, whether I bought the shirt/blouse or not will remain a mystery. I’m not telling. But next time you see me in person, and I’m wearing a green shirt, just ask, and I’ll be happy to show you the label. And while looking good in a maternity top, for some men might be the definition of a bad day, for me it’s not. For me it was a good day. I found some great shirts for a phenomenal price. Yes indeed, it was a good day. A very good day.
Right up until I was walking through the parking lot to get to my car.
And my water broke.
Photo—J.D. Thomas/Flickr
Hey Dan!
All of my favorite men are a beautiful blend of masculine and feminine sensibilities. This article highlights that magnificently. If we teach our boys and girls that neither gender nor gender-based behavior or dress is preferential, then we will have come a long way as a species. Looking forward to seeing your green shirt when our paths cross again.
Edie
You should be more bold and take it further. I am sure you will look good in a dress or skirt too. I like men who are comfortable with themselves and can cross the gender binary just as much as women!
Sorry, wasn’t trying to reply to you.
That last line was truly a LOL moment. I’m like you Dan. I think I scored about that range too. I looked at that I’m just a better balanced human is what it told me! Here’s my take on all this men/women this or that nonsense we all been hearing so much about lately. For the last century, women have been fighting for the rights and acknowledgment to be equal to men. Fair enough goal. At this point in time, especially among the younger people, specifically male people they have been inundated with that message since day one. They get… Read more »
You hit the nail on the head Mark.