Panty Loon
While it’s still a tad too nippy to be wearing open toed sandals here in Toronto (unless you like that frostbitten limb look), I decided to go for a mani-pedi yesterday all the same, just to let Mother Nature know I’m holding her to her promise of spring.
As I sat in the recliner at the nail salon with my winter worn feet soaking in a vat of skin-de-yuckifier, I noticed a man sitting in the lounger across from me with his feet immersed in a similar concoction, pants rolled up to his knees. He was reading the paper, sending the occasional text and looking completely relaxed and cheerful in his surroundings. Perhaps not the poster boy for “Alpha Male” with his cuticles soaking, he did exude that kind of rare confidence under the circumstances that said, “I’m here; I belong”. We exchanged tentative smiles as our feet were being cheese-grated.
My husband has shown that kind of self-assurance in moments of gender role reversal as well, though he has one particular memory that pushed his ability to laugh at himself to its breaking point. And beyond.
It was on a rather sweltering summer day when Andrew had woken up alone at home as he’d been working in the city all week while the kids and I were up north. As such, the temporary bachelor had allowed some of the domestic chores to slip through the cracks, most notably of which had been laundry production.
With no clean underwear at the ready and no other options available to him, he did what any resourceful, easy-going guy would have done.
He rifled through my underwear drawer.
Now, before this story goes completely off the rails, let me say that Andrew has never shown a proclivity toward lingerie wearing, nor have I ever caught him parading around in my peep toe pumps. But I guess desperate times called for desperate measures.
Secretly clad in my roomy pink cotton hipsters (from the “Big Bum Pants” collection at the back of my drawer), he decided to head for the gym to get in a swim before heading to the office.
As he approached the entrance to the club, in typical Andrew fashion, Mr. Chatty McChat struck up a conversation with some of the other male members going in, thereby blissfully obliterating any recollection of the manner in which he had started his day.
By the time they’d all reached the locker room, their rousing banter was in full swing. Locating a locker, Andrew pulled out his bathing suit from the bag he had brought with him, turned toward the locker and proceeded to drop his pants, mid-conversation. There, bent over for all to see, was his taut, pink personality.
It only took a split second for the mortification to fully set in. Snatching up a towel, he sheepishly headed to the nearest corner of the change room and pretended to look for something. His mind, no doubt.
From here, the rest of the story gets a bit blurry, not because of an inability to recall the events, but because these memories have now melded together with those of another day, only weeks prior, when (strike me with a lightning bolt if I’m lying) he did the e-x-a-c-t same thing … at the e-x-a-c-t same club … for the e-x-a-c-t same reason.
You probably think I’m kidding, don’t you?
Or perhaps you’re justifiably thinking, “Oh, what a poor, naïve little thing she is! That man is clearly a cross-dressing amnesiac with really bad taste in lingerie.”
But the fact is he’s just a man who places far less importance on the packaging and more on the package.
I mean, his package.
I mean … oh, seriously, how does he get himself into these messes?
That was hilarious! Although not quite as funny, my husband went on an interview years ago, was so nervous he ate at the airport, felt ill afterwards and ran into the bathroom. He did notice how clean the airport bathroom stall was. (First clue there was a problem). When he got out of the stall he noticed the lack of urinals, however, as he washed his hands an elderly lady can up to the sinks and kept staring at him. He thought “poor old lady, she doesn’t even know she’s in the men’s room”. As he walked out his eye caught the Ladies Room sign…hence the “brisk” walk to the plane, never to return to an airport bathroom.
Oh Sherry, tell your husband I feel his pain as I’ve done the same thing myself in the men’s room (sadly, it runs in the family). Did he get the job?! 🙂
Ha ha ha… Yup. It was drama though. He left for the airport at 4:30, called me when he got there because he forgot his wallet. I had to load two sleeping little kids into the car and drive 20 minutes to meet him half way. He got there the second time, checked in and then went to breakfast. Then the bathroom drama played out. Poor guy… Was a hoot though. I really found your husbands story a bit funnier though. Especially being round two… My kids and I laughed over coffee and my son said “the Canadians are such good humored funny people”. We come up for the Highland games and thus the impression of “all Canadians”. Sorry… You all are considered to have much more humor than the rest of us. 😉
My now that is a story. I think I would have taken that little anecdote to the grave. Why didn’t he just go commando from the start? But that would have not been nearly as funny. Thanks for the laugh.
I imagine the commando option loses its appeal during a heatwave, for the chafe-factor alone. As for taking it to the grave, I’m just grateful Andrew can laugh at himself, and lets us all laugh along with him! Thanks Benson 🙂
Hee!
Glad it gave you a lift, Paul! 🙂
Another good reason to go “commando” in a pinch. Except on St. Paddy’s Day.
It may be that pinch that keeps most men from trying it!
Haha! 😉
You are a very funny lady at ALL times but I would like to congratulate you on your choice of husband as he seems to play a big part in providing you with comedic material. X
Truer words were never spoken, Andie! I’m grateful everyday for my choice in husbands (ok yeah, AND the comedic provisions!). X
Husbands? You got another one hidden away somewhere? Even funnier.
Love the story..I got to enjoy it several summers ago up at CI when sitting on your deck sipping a G&T. Andrew you did it again. You put a smile on my face..thank you.
It never gets old, does it Vanessa? Deck time again this summer! xx
I was wondering how in the heck you were going come out “on top” from this “bottom” story and you came thru with (pink) flying colors! Loved the ending!!
Thanks so much L’il Miss M! 🙂
This is hilarious! You are a great writer, very funny. 🙂
High praise – thank you so much! 🙂
He got himself in the “mess” the same way all of us men do…he let his y chromosome go out without supervision. 🙂
That Y is SO not authorized. 🙂
The question is… Would you have done the same in the reverse situation?…. Say if he had a pair of mint condition whitey tighties?? Minus the gym of course!!! 😉
Ok. Trying to pick the best comment when the choices are so numerous…