I was a little melancholy today as I looked at my daughter's wedding photos. An event that I had to skip and I'm blaming it on the economy. I hadn't had a job in 2 years when this opportunity came along, so I jumped at it, and landed in Afghanistan. Nikkie understood, but I still wished I had been there. It looked so beautiful and happy! What a special day for her... Congrats Baby! The dresses were beautiful. This was one occasion that the girls weren't dressed as on the cover of Vogue....maybe Sport's Illustrated / Swimsuit Edition...Scott & Nikkie's wedding was on a cruise ship. How great was that! So they were all dressed in the latest swimsuit fashions. There was also dress up at dinner and this is where my story takes off.
We all know how important fashion is in America...land of plenty and don't forget to show it off. I never thought of myself as a fashion guru apart from being an armchair critic for "Project Runway". But I saw my inner snob come out this week. There are very few American women where I am. There are Bosnians, Macedonians, Germans, Kenyans, Pakistani's, even some "home boys" from Afghanistan and many other countries too numerous to name. The American women...you know us...we wear the ordered: desert boots, tan cargo pants, uniform shirt...March... drab, drab. The Bosnians and Kenyans seem to have cornered the 70's market. I can't remember when the last time I saw someone with a Cyndi Lauper balanced on the top side of your head ponytail. I almost yanked that baby off. And bangle bracelets...Hello Madonna!!! And tight, tight stretch jeans...WTH, we're in Afghanistan...just peel those baby's off. You look ridiculous with those sweat spots on your behind- or maybe it's all the water that I make you all drink- Ha! ha! ha! who knows. And under no circumstance, in any country, at any age is it acceptable to wear anything Sponge Bob Square Pants- you hear me? And, the bad weaves...it was funny that a girl tried to negotiate a couple weaves of my buddy's hair. Problem was...it's her real hair!!! They wear winter coats and fluffy winter vests...Today it was 110 degrees. Don't even come to me with your heat stroke. It's not fashion if it makes you sick. OK, maybe it could kill you...like the 10 inch spikes my daughter Angee and her friends wear. (That's right! They shop in New York City). I secretly want to push her off those towers of glory just to make a point. You are going to break your neck! Then it occurred to me... you're either into fashion, or you are OUT! Girls just want to be the best that they can be. Same, same...but different.
