Monk

Neckties come to mind. I remember when I felt I needed to learn how to tie one on, convinced that I had outgrown the snap-on ties. This may have been as late as when I was getting ready for law school, but it could have been much earlier, perhaps when I was getting ready to begin college. Jack somehow picked up the skill, and he was the one who actually instructed me in the art. However, as it turns out, I never had need for it, and if pressed, I could not put one on now to save my life.

But it does not matter. A dark-colored T-shirt suffices me for my most formal occasions, whether it is going to the library downtown, or going to an ‘ALL YOU CAN EAT!’ buffet with pop. I just have to make sure that I don’t have any holes in it. That would be so gauche. Ah, but that happy expectation of climbing up the social ladder, of moving on up in the world! All of which is so sadly funny now. I cry more than I laugh, but I know it is funny too.