Entering Life, Stage Right

For the top of every semester, I dress very nicely. Slacks, button-down shirts, leather shoes – the whole nine yards. Why? Well, as you must be aware, first appearances are very important. Within the first month and a half or so of school, I meet many new people, from freshmen and peers to professors and directors. Between my clothing, demeanor, and facial hair, I give off the air of age and distinction that I may not actually possess. This important consideration is no less relevant in other initial introductions; it is, unfortunately, completely disregarded.

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Recently, I had the great misfortune to see the movie Man of the Year. It’s very difficult to describe the movie, other than stating the fact that it was not a good one. Taking the previews at face value, the movie would be called a “comedy”. After watching it, I find it had elements of comedy, drama, suspense, spy-thriller – and every one was less than half-baked. Every single one failed. I didn’t laugh, I didn’t hold my breath, I didn’t wonder what would happen next; in short, I didn’t care.

I have to wonder what the advertising types were thinking when they gave the thumbs up on those commercials. Admittedly, the movie had Robin Williams in it, but he does not make a movie a comedy. Just look at Patch Adams, very dramatic and well done. If they had taken the time to show some of the more serious aspects of the movie in the previews, it might not have come as such a surprise to find the movie completely devoid of comedy. A set up like that, and people might actually have liked the movie. Sadly, for Williams and company, I haven’t found anyone who did.

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The first month and a half of school passes me by in the blink of an eye. After all this time, keeping up my appearance, neatly shorn beard, pants and button-downs, shoes and brushed hair, becomes a little more than I’m willing to do, so I cheat a little; nice jeans, clean t-shirts and very casual button-downs. The beard gets a little scruffy, the hair gets a little shaggy. I ditch my briefcase and just carry my books. I always try to look good, and carry myself well, but it’s not quite the same as day one, that first appearance.

And yet, amazingly, people don’t seem to notice. They still think I’m dressed up very nicely. Not a week goes by, from that third month until the semester ends, that I don’t get a shocked outburst along the lines of “Mark! You’re wearing jeans! You NEVER wear jeans!”

It matters not that I’ve been wearing jeans for eight weeks…