It is no secret among those who know me that I can sweat. Not the over-the-top, sweat-the-pits sweating, but it seems that once I start sweating, it can roll down my face and back for hours.
As you can imagine, that makes for a fun walk to work in the 90 degree heat of a New York summer. In addition, this morning, I re-started my morning work out regime, which only added to the sweating. On top of that, my air conditioner has been less than effective recently (which my building continues to promise is being fixed "tomorrow." Yet, every afternoon I come home and the unit still sits there, mocking me for needing it.)
So I am figuring out how to adjust to this aspect of City life, the big sweat.
This morning, I stopped in one of the stores on the way in to work and bought a desk top fan. It helps, but the real secret has been a return to my roots: the men's handkerchief.
I am not talking about the silk kerchief stuck oh-so-imperfectly into the skinny suit pocket. I am talking about the working man's workhorse: the basic white, 100% cotton handkerchief.
With complete and utter homage to my Grandfather, who never left the house without one, I am now proudly carrying around several of them in my satchel.
They really come in handy, from wiping my brow to wiping my hands in the myriad of New York bathrooms that inevitably are out of paper towels. I even was able to whip one out after a female co-worker spilled a drink on her pants, and offer it to her. Just like it was 1895. (Actually, she loved it. I did learn from my Grandfather that, when you offer one to a lady, you let her keep it. At $10/pack, that is do-able).
So now I am a little more presentable when I walk into the office, looking a little less like I am melting.
While other people blog that madras shorts or matching jacket/shorts sets are this summer's must-haves, I say it is the basic white handkerchief.
