Hey, 1957 man!
(cont'd) Mouw and I renamed our apartment the Gentleman’s Lounge and appointed ourselves to the board of directors. We turned a living room wall into the Gentleman’s Hall of Fame. It features Brett Favre, Neil Diamond -- he may dress a little different, but his confidence and success set him apart -- and Ron Burgundy.
Friday night keg parties and banal conversation have transitioned into a weekly session of drinking spiked eggnog and watching John Wayne movies.
Actually, our ritualistic male bonding sessions have become an event within itself: Sunday football watching session? Now it’s either a Gentleman’s Afternoon In, or a Gentleman’s Day of Leisure, depending on what time everyone wakes up from drinking heavily the night before.
Everything we do now has a Gentleman’s overtone to it, and all of us seem to be happy because of it.
In a world of 6.7 billion people, I believe our new belief system gives us a feeling of independence we haven’t yet experienced in our lives: a chance to transition from childhood to manhood.
But, as Paterniti points out, the transition takes resolve. Not everyone embraces 1957 Man with the respect he was accustomed to during the Cold War.
According to my 81-year-old grandpa, the suit was accepted as a regular outfit in 1957.
Now, in 2007, at least one person a day needs an explanation for my decision to wear a pocket square and have perfectly shined shoes.
On one particular instance, my journalism professor, whose smile was so big it’s possible he just got done inhaling laughing gas, looked at me and asked if he missed a department-wide memo about dressing up.
I told him that as 1957 Man’s protégé, I find the world has become my office. So, everywhere I go, I need to be prepared for a business meeting.
Such a radical change in persona will not be for everyone, but for me it has been a worthwhile adventure.
Any man who is feeling a bit empty, or is feeling like he hasn’t reached his full potential, should give an over-the-top Gentleman’s lifestyle a try -- because it is really fun.
It has afforded me the opportunity to approach the second phase of my life gracefully, and to laugh at myself along the way.
As Paterniti points out, it takes courage to spring into a casual world in a non-casual way.
I still feel a bit self-conscious at times, but every stage of life has its aches and pains, and growing into a Gentleman’s lifestyle has been no different.
People have already begun to accept 1957 Man as part of my being. I even get a few laughs when I point out my career aspiration is to become a Robber Baron.
In a world full of anonymous players, it feels nice to be standing center stage.
Just like 1957 Man.
Copyright © 2005 Western Washington University