Life lesson: Always dress to die

We stood in the Deer Lake airport waiting forever to pass through security. Apparently, the man in front of us wasn't aware of the havoc that steel toe boots could cause a metal detector.

After a few scans, the Security guard asked him to take off his boots and put them through the x-ray. He slid one off after the other, and to the horror of everyone there, his socks were wretched. Holes everywhere. Different toes poking out of different holes, no heels, an ankle showing here, another on the other foot. As I fought back laughing, my Dad leaned over to me.

"There's a life lesson for you, Always wear clean, fit socks, because you never know when you're going to have to take your shoes off." I burst out laughing, the poor guy turned crimson.
...
This morning, I evidently slept through my alarm for 90 minutes. I woke up with just 20 minutes to get ready and run to class. Somehow I managed it, though I was quite hungry during the last stretch of my thermodynamics lecture.

On the walk home, my head swelled with panic from the looming spectre of 3 midterms (weds, thurs, and fri) A voice called out. I looked up and saw a girl, midway in a street crossing. "Hey!! Do you have a second?"

I smiled and stopped, figuring she was going to ask the time. I started to pull my sleeve up to show my watch when she said something totally unexpected.

"I'm... (I didn't catch her name), I'm the fashion reporter for the Daily News..... I write an column every Thursday where I hit the street and snap photos of people the are well dressed.... Do you have time for a couple of questions on your ensemble and some photos?"

I started to flush... "Ummm.. I'm pretty camera shy..." I managed, trying not to let my eyes stray to the visible ends of my mountain of hair, which of course was badly in need cutting.

"Oh come on!!!" She said... "It'll be great!"

Thoughts started to race through my head. 'F---K! The daily news, that's a tabloid, this could be a prank.... shit.. it could be a prank anyways!"

But then a thought came to mind... "Who cares? After you bomb this set of tests, a career in fashion, no matter how shitty it might be... may be all you have left."

"Sure I guess, why not" I said, trying to smile... before I knew it, I was giving my name, describing each piece I was wearing (brand name, place of purchase) and price.

finally, "And Colum... what's your favorite place to shop?"

*PANIC!*.. "Umm.... ummm... *pause*, Le Chateau?" I said, expecting her to laugh.... I waited, and she looked up, actually impressed..

"Excellent. They really do have a lot of great stuff there for guys now don't they?"

After some more small talk, I continued on my walk home to bury myself in the books, but I couldn't help but smile and think what I would say to my brother..

"The real difference between you and me is that I make this look good."

*fingers crossed for it not to be a prank :)*