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Chuck Hinman: IJMA No. 075: Properly Dressed Chuck Hinman. It's Just Me Again No. 075 Properly Dressed: Seen and Unseen The next earlier Chuck Hinman story: Claustrophia: Sleeping Bag Predicament Is Chuck Hinman your favorite Sunday with CM columnist, as many tell us? If so, we hope you'll drop him a line by email. Reader comments to CM are appreciated, as are emails directly to Mr. Hinman at: charles.hinman@sbcglobal.net By Chuck Hinman The year is 1960 and we are in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. I was one of the 10,000 Phillips Petroleum Company office workforce in our city of 35,000 people, the largest employer in the state of Oklahoma. In years to come, Bartlesville consistently ranked as one of the top ten small cities in the United States in which to live, and for good reason. Typical office attire was "dressy business." Thank goodness there were no "sloppy Joe/Josephine Fridays" in those wonderful days. Men wore suits, shirts, and ties; women sported DeLiso Deb pumps in all colors but all with high heels. Edward's and Koppel's women's stores made a killing in those days as did Zofness and May Brothers men's clothing stores (all no longer in business). Noon on the streets of downtown Bartlesville was like noon on Wall Street in New York City. Office workers were dressed to the hilt. Oh for the good old days! I had been diagnosed as having had a premature heart attack. My doctor urged that I exercise more and become less sedentary. So, I became one of the first people to take up jogging in Bartlesville for health's sake. Most of my running in those days was done on Highway 75 before I went to work in the morning. Bartlesville built a jogging trail called Pathfinder Parkway. Part of that wonderful jogging venue circled Johnstone Park in downtown Bartlesville. It was great because a runner didn't have to compete with car and truck traffic. About this same time, the YMCA built a new facility near Johnstone Park. For a short time I thought it was convenient for me to get my jogging done before I went to work. So, when I got up in the morning, I slipped into some running clothes. I had a locker at the Y where I kept my shaving articles and all I had to do was bring my clothes for the day. After my early morning two mile run on Pathfinder Parkway, and shaving and showering at the Y, I was prepared for the day's work. I was probably the healthiest I have ever been. Well, guess what. One morning after I had completed my run, I reached in my car to get my clothes and discovered I had forgotten to bring my clean underwear. After I shaved and showered and put on my clothes, I was completely dressed except for underwear. At first I thought -- no big deal, I'll just fake it! I could soon tell I was going to have big trouble going through the day without underwear. I don't know how to explain it, but being under-girded by snug-fitting jockey shorts seems to help you when you are making a statement in a meeting of your peers. Without underwear, I seemed to lack confidence in anything. I was incoherent, stuttering and miserable. Who would have dreamed that snug undies are so important in the business world. No advertisements that I have seen ever show a CEO clad in only jockey shorts assertively addressing the annual meeting of stockholders. But mark my word, you can bet he has on proper-fitting underwear -- no doubt the secret of his success. About 10 AM, I told Shirley, my secretary that I HAD to make a short trip home but that I would be back promptly. She didn't ask and I didn't tell the reason. When I arrived home, the driveway was full of cars. I had forgotten this was the morning Connie hosted her Bible study class of ladies. No big deal I thought! I would just slip in the back door and go straight to my bedroom to complete dressing without having to explain -- to that house full of chatty women (and Connie most of all) -- why I was home. Connie wouldn't let me explain later -- she had to know NOW. I could tell she was serious. After hearing my story, she thought it was a "screamer" and proceeded to spill it to her friends -- the ladies Bible class! When will I ever live this down! More than 50 years later, some of Connie's friends who were there that morning will smile and wink and ask if I am wearing underwear today. Yes I have underwear on as I write this article! Mind your own business! -Chuck Hinman This story was posted on 2010-09-19 06:58:23
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Chuck Hinman IJMA No. 106: Sleeping Bag Predicament Chuck Hinman IJMA No. 119: Beta Beta Beta : the Black Bottom Boys Chuck Hinman IJMA No. 162: A Tribute to Our Horses Chuck Hinman. IJMA No. 016: Twenty froggies went to school Chuck Hinman IJMA No. 092: Borrowing Stuff Chuck Hinman IJMA 078: Fried Chicken Chuck Hinman, IJMA 109: Little Helper Boy Chuck Hinman, IJMA 115: The Time Mom Taught Me To Control My Temper Chuck Hinman, IJMA 079: Advice for Retirement: Kitchen Rules Chuck Hinman, IJMA 033: Cherry Canning View even more articles in topic Chuck Hinman - Reminiscences |
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