Friday, June 14, 2013

What is a neighbor to do?

We've all had the experience. You see someone with a piece of food in their teeth, a boogie in their nose, a wild hair somewhere, toilet paper on the bottom of their shoe, or a man ( you might know)wearing his tee shirt inside out.

So what do you do if you see this sort of thing? I would want someone to tell me. But I don't always tell others, even people I know well. When I do mention it I try to be subtle. I've handed a coworker a tissue, told a woman she was trailing TP.

A teacher once told me that she was on the beach with her new husband when he drew close to her and tapped his lip. She leaned in to kiss him and he pulled back and tapped his lip again. She was nose to nose with him when he whispered, "mustache." HIS upper lip was clean shaven. They're still married.

My latest quandry is do I tell the lovely non-English speaking, overweight, grandmotherly neighbor that the new outift she has been parading around in for three evenings is not a matching shirt and capri set? She's wearing a pair of cotton summer pajamas. They are the prettiest print, little blue flowers on white background. She had guests over tonight and she showed off her garden, then strolled out front to show them her fruit bearing trees and the zucchini growing across the lawn. (Yes) I respect all boundaries and cultures, but do I dare say? She really loves her new lounging jammies.

 

12 comments:

Donna Volkenannt said...

Maybe tell her how cute her new lounging pajamas are, with an emphasis on pajamas.

Southhamsdarling said...

I agree with Donna's comment, but, hey, if she's happy, that's all that matters! As long as she doesn't go parading out in the street with them. LOL!!

Sioux Roslawski said...

You might even ask her where she got the lounging PAJAMAS. Oh, wait, she doesn't speak English? How is she going to understand you?

Joanne Noragon said...

I'd just smile for her happiness and let it go.

Lynn said...

Hey, she's happy... I lounge in mine when I'm home. However, I would want you to tell me if I have a boogie in my nose!

Bookie said...

I agree with the happiness bit...if she is covered and enjoying, let her feel good in her duds. Many of the clothes we see now days should be kept under the covers anyway.

Pat Wahler said...

I have to vote for if she's happy in her jammies, let her be. Maybe she knows and just doesn't care!

Pat
Critter Alley

Val said...

Let her wear them. Some of the clothes I see on TV in different countries look like pajamas to me. Maybe they are exactly the style and comfort she's been trying to find here. And MAYBE she just likes to wear her pajamas all the time.

Nobody bothered to tell Hugh Hefner, and he did all right for himself.

Kim Lehnhoff said...

Maybe in her country, her clothing is appropriate and accepted. I wouldn't say anything - I'd smile back!

(Note to self: Pay more attention to my wardrobe when seeing Linda) :)

Karen Lange said...

Oh this is a tough call. I'd want to know about the broccoli in my teeth and that sort of thing, and if it were a close friend or sister, I'd want to know about this too. But telling someone else like this...not sure what I'd do!

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

LOL! I see people wearing pajama-like pants all the time. (Yes, even the flannel variety!)

Maybe she's just ahead of the fashion curve.

Connie said...

Ah well, if she's comfy and happy, more power to her. :-)