I got up this morning and put on a reversible T-shirt - back to front, not inside-out.  I think it got it at The Gap or American Apparel.  The idea is that you get a scoop neck and crew neck in one shirt, the mullet of shirts (business in the front, party in the back).  I put it on, crew side forward, and went on about my day.

I briefly stopped at the mall to get something for the upcoming trip, and decided to try on a cute, but overpriced tank top, I saw on a mannequin.  Unbeknownst to me, however, when I put my shirt back on, it was scoop side front.

I left the store, and all of a sudden, I couldn’t keep men from smiling, and chatting, and thanking me for my smile.  It was like night and day.  For good ten or fifteen minutes, I couldn’t figure out what in the heck had changed.  I was the same person who’d left the house this morning in grotty, pet hair laden, sweats, sans jewelry and makeup.

Then, inadvertantly, I looked down, and realized I’d brought my milkshakes to the party.  I debated turning the t-shirt back to the more, uh, conservative side in the car, but instead opted for the great service that came my way at the library, and drug store, and Trader Joe’s.

DH (Vortigern) laughs when I use my, uh, ‘charm’ to get discounts, free stuff, good service (especially at electronics stores and auto repair shops).  But the female body, like it or not, has a certain, uh, currency.

When I was sixteen, and self-conscious, it used to bother me.  Now I think if I can get stuff and I don’t have to do a darn thing but stand there and look cute, then all to my benefit.

I suspect my fellow sisters would find the paradigm inherently sexist.  I say, let men lead with their, uh, brains.