Wednesday, April 22, 2009

The historian as sartorialist.

The historian reviews clothing in a catalog (I suggested he might find something of interest there):

Historian: I don't think I've quite come across what it is you had in mind for me here.

Me: Well, maybe not. I just thought you might see something.

Historian: Everything seems kind of expensive.

Me: You have no idea how much clothes cost anymore.

Historian (pauses to consider justice of this trenchant observation): Well, I don't think socks used to cost twelve dollars a pair.

Me: You know, I've bought you socks that cost that much.

Historian: Actually, my all-time favorite pair of socks cost fifteen dollars, and that was years ago.

Me: You have an all-time favorite pair of socks? What were they like?

Historian: They were wool, I guess . . . they were dress socks, and they came up this high (gestures at mid-calf). When you're wearing dress socks, you don't want . . .

Me (finishing his sentence (very bad habit)): Gapping? (at this point, trying to imagine:) So they were just . . . black socks?

Historian: I can't quite remember--textured, maybe. (Pauses, remembering:) They were the first pair of socks that showed me what socks could be.

7 comments:

  1. So charming and so funny. and so true. I'm not sure I've found those socks yet, but if I have, I'm pretty sure they were at least $15 a pair and they were Smartwool. And they were buddhist socks, of course.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You know what I love about those conversations is that I can totally hear you two speaking. I love the way he methodically speaks.

    The most we spend on socks right now is $8 a pair for Drew. To wear to work. To be covered in oil/gas/who knows what. But they're comfortable (so he says) and they don't get holes in them.. simply amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I had to re-look up the word sartorialist. So not only do you make me laugh but you improve my mind, too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Those are some socks I could certainly use.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Feel better now. Ian has theories about how rough things can get 'when good socks go bad.' He thinks a lot about his socks.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I was just this morning thinking about MY all-time favorite pair of socks, which cost me 15 pence, in Ireland, in 1993, and which had a maroon and a dark blue stripe just at the top. They were kids' tube socks. Ugly as hell. My mother blanched when I wore them. I was sorry to have them wear out.

    ReplyDelete
  7. what socks could be...that is funny.

    ReplyDelete

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails