Memorial Day Musings

Like pretty much everyone else that inhabits this land from "sea to shining sea," I spent Memorial Day weekend cooking out, socializing with friends and generally kicking back and having a good time.

My late father, a World War II combat veteran, would have whole-heartedly approved. In my small town, there were two lovely Memorial Day observances, pools were open, the beach was crowded and the crowd, for the most part, congenial.

However, I did come across a few things that gave me pause.

First of all - when did it become "normal" to have a tattoo? Not that I'm against body art, per se, and Lord knows, I'm all for self-expression, but I was one of perhaps a handful of women who were not "inked" at the pool or beach this weekend.

Secondly - I spied several women who were not in what I would consider swimwear. I understand the need to cover up - whether for religious reasons or in fear of sunburn - but a number of swimwear manufacturers make modest suits appropriate for the pool or beach. Leave the sports bras at home. And by the way, if a woman is uber-busty, wearing a regular bra underneath your swimsuit is not an option. It looks stupid. Just buy a suit with the appropriate bust support. Money is no excuse. Well-engineered swim suits are available at all price points. Target and God forbid, Walmart, both carry them. While I'm at it, wearing a tank top under a halter-style dress is also a fashion "don't." The neckline is designed to show off your back, so wearing a shirt underneath defeats the purpose of the design.

This third observation is for the guys. Don't shame your toddlers to jump into the water from the side of the pool or put their cute little faces under water. If your child is afraid, be mindful of their fears and work with them to overcome their resistance to the water. I heard some dads say some pretty horrible things to their offspring this weekend. Congratulations, Dad! You ended up with an unhappy child, and you managed to make the lives of all those around you temporarily miserable.

Here's the thing. When one is out in public, one needs to realize one is not the center of the universe. To co-exist peacefully, everyone must have consideration for the others around them.