My Wife, My Kids, My Khakis.
The above topic caught my interest without any idea what a few words on the subject might say. So, if you choose to continue, please bear with me. We’ll explore the matter together.
The exercise is already starting to feel like one of those trips to the attic, on assignment by my wife, to find something she needs (like that collapsible emergency escape ladder I bought while she was pregnant). It’s impossible to visit the attic without getting side tracked. Next thing you know, you’re digging through boxes finding stuff from a previous life. Remember, the life you lived before a wife and kids? Old sunglasses, photos, letters, a bowling trophy… (I dated her?... a bowling trophy?). An hour later, you come downstairs feeling you’ve lived a relatively full life, the only thing missing, of course, that thing you went to the attic for in the first place, whatever it was.
Khakis are good for climbing around attics, getting nostalgic with one’s past. Nostalgia isn’t something I’ve looked to my own life for until recently. I’ve always looked to the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s for inspiration. Of late, the 80’s seem to be creeping into our product development conversations. At least we’ve had the good sense to stay away from the 70’s.
Yea, khakis and I go way back. The photos prove it. That trip to Europe to visit relatives… there I am wearing khakis. The covered bridge I painted (by hand)… wearing khakis. College golf team… khakis. And I haven’t changed much. Khakis are great for work, horsing around with the kids and even social occasions. I’m so predictable even my 5 year old daughter has taken notice, “Daddy and khakis, khakis, khakis, khakis.”
What women (even at 5 years old) see as boring, men see as resolve. My long term commitment and contentment with khakis give me a sense of reassurance, unwavering am I in the face of fad and fashion. Why fix something that’s not broken? How level headed of me… Ok, so maybe I am boring.
My wife really gets on my case when I go to work wearing something close to a khaki pant / khaki shirt combo. I don’t know how she detects such monochromatic tones at that hour in the morning, she’s still half asleep… must be that mommy radar kicking in. Granted, I do leave the house from time to time looking like I work for the Department of the Interior, but khaki goes with everything, including khaki. Fortunately, we’ve started making oxford cloth button downs in blue and white, so my chances of grabbing a more favorable shirt in the darkness of my closet have greatly improved.
Nowhere do my wife, my kids and my khakis get closer (literally) than in the laundry. Khaki pants, khaki shirts, khaki shorts, khaki socks in all shapes and sizes, tumbling around together. It seems like a fun filled family activity, but that’s not reality. Laundry is relentless in nature. It keeps coming, and coming. Wash, dry, fold, stack - I’m eternally grateful to my wife for keeping us in clean clothes. Thankfully, khakis can be worn many times between laundering, which saves time, energy and helps our environment… and that’s a feel good!
I’d offer to help with the laundry, but I don’t fold well according to her. Oh well, there’s always something for me to do in the attic.