Opus 2013-331: On the Street: Playing Make-over

When I find someone’s looks to be extreme I sometimes play the game of make-over.

Some people are ugly.  They can’t do anything about it.  I am not offended by ugly.  There is no way I can be sure that I myself am not ugly.  Sometimes things can be so ugly they are cute.  Do you remember your first reaction to the Volkswagen Bug?  You can’t fault a person for the shape of their head or their general body style.  Tall is tall.  Short is short.  It is not a failure to apply the right kinds of fertilizer on the feet.  It is genetic.  A big nose just grows.  But if you have a head with the nooks and crannies of a Thomas English Muffin you might want to grow some hair instead of shaving it.

So I ask myself, “What would I do different if I were in charge of a make-over?”  My thinking was jump-started by a young man filling his coffee cup this morning.  I have seen him before.  He looks too young to be drinking coffee.  In fact he looks too young to be out by himself.  He is pale, boney and geeky.  I noticed that he had cute little diamonds in his ears but it was offset by zits that were bigger.  What would I do to make him look like someone with a purpose and a future?

In his case there isn’t much I could do except ditch the ear studs, but that is purely a personal taste.  I think that time will take care of most of the issues.  From my lofty perch of senior citizen I notice that there are ages that just don’t work well for some people.

For others I might suggest clothes that are clean and in good repair.  Some might want to wash and comb their hair.  Some could lose weight or at least wear clothes that don’t call attention to the rolls that ball up yonder. 

Actually it is none of my business, but since when does that stop us from meddling.  After all, as a teacher, I can say I work for the government and I am here to help them.

homo unius libri