Having seen the alternative close up, I am nothing but stoked to be growing older. And yet it's not without its pains. Take, for example, the return of really horrible fashions. I feel like I know how the victims in horror movies feel. After much effort, they've finally slain the horrible person or creature that has made their lives hell, and they finally allow themselves to relax their vigilance and then, just when they least expect it, out springs the killer again! and all they can think is, "Why the hell won't you just stay dead!"
And so it is with this look, which confronted me when I opened what I thought was an innocent sale notification from the Gap:(Sorry I can't make the images stack up, but you get the idea)
A blood-curdling scream escaped my mouth, and my family came running. "What is it?" they demanded, alarmed. Unable to speak, I merely pointed at the screen. "Who's the dork?" the kids said, laughing, while My Lovely Wife patted my shoulder and whispered, "I understand. And I'm so very sorry."
This was a horrible look back in the early 80's. I once (In Losing My Faculties) mocked a co-worker who sported this look in the early 90's as "Captain 80's." But, I mean, the guy was in his 40's with thinning hair and still dressing like Vince Van Patten as the evil frat boy in any of a number of 80's movies. I think I was within my rights to mock him. and yet, I suppose he, now in his late 50's or early 60's and undoubtedly still sporting the same look, probably has the last laugh now.
