On a regular basis I drive people to clinics, hospitals and other health care related places. All of these folks have lost most of their capacity to drive. Their mobility is definitely on the wane. Walking is difficult, bicycling is out of the question. They don’t have partners who can do the driving for them.
With the loss of mobility, they are also losing the urge to dress carefully. They have lost the need to appeal to others regardless of sex. Many of them don’t even dress for the day. “Night gown and slippers will do fine. No one will be visiting me. No one I can think of, anyway. So what is the purpose of putting on clothes?”
And when these people do put on clothes for a trip to the doctor, their concern for appearance is very low on the totem pole. Male or female: they put on the first thing that comes to mind plus some non matching sneakers and they kind of do their hair. A man’s attention to facial hair has passed months ago and lipstick for the women is of no importance anymore.
I see this picture almost every week, and it was not too long ago that I realized that I too can fall in that “mode”. Nowadays I only wear jeans when I do chores and garden work. Not that I need to look attractive and kept for others. No, it is strictly for myself. I want to appear presentable.
I am no longer 25 or 50, when one can take liberties with one’s dress and garment. With age I have a feeling that I become less and less presentable and with that notion people around me may shun my presence. I am single and I do need my group of friends. Yes, I become more vulnerable. The youthfulness advertised all over is gone. Very few older folks can maintain that natural elegance and style, even if they were born with it. Many older folks now carry around that disheveled look no one seems to advertise as desirable.
So, for as long as I can, I’ll make an effort to be sensitive to my appearance and maybe I can carry it off. If not, well, then you know that I tried.
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