The Rules of Fashion According to Morristown

To live in Morristown, the following guidelines come in handy:

FASHION FOR MEN
1) Men must wear khaki pants only, madras shorts or pants are allowed in the summer, but only on special occasion.
2) Shirts are to be worn according to the season (pastels in the summer, darker colors in the winter). Ties are to be worn at your discretion, but you get points if they have small animals on them or a "quirky" pattern recently featured in American Lifestyle or at Brooks Brothers. Remember, ties are your "flair". They directly tell the public who you are, so choose wisely.
3) Sport jackets are to be hung in the backseat of your BMW, Volvo or Audi. You never know when you will be invited to drinks at Rod's. Better safe than sorry.
4) Always keep your best suit freshly pressed. In the case of an evening to the local community theater, it's smart to have it ready if you decide to dine at The Grand Cafe.
5) Older gentlemen are encouraged to wear cashmere sweaters and ties. This look is classic and suitable almost all the time. In the warmer months, Polo shirts are acceptable, as long as they are not faded and are tucked in. Neutral colors only, please.

FASHION FOR WOMEN
1) Khaki pants are preferred, but anything you purchase at JCrew, Brooks Brothers or Talbots is acceptable. See Helen at Talbots or Mary Beth at Brooks Brothers for assistance
2) Accessorize properly. Pearls are ALWAYS appropriate, but gold is a classic as well. We save our diamonds for special nights. It's taboo to wear them in daylight, as we are in Morristown, not Ridgewood. Always remember, Morris County and Bergen County are WORLDS apart.
3) If you are wearing a dress, it must be knee length and it is suggested to have a cardigan at the ready, you never know when you will get a chill walking the Green.
4) Help your man dress. It is up to you to enforce the details of #2.
5) Shorts are acceptable for the gym, but not for dinner.
6) If you must wear a tank top, please tuck it in.
7) If you are an "older" woman, longer skirts, scarves purchased on your vacations, and decorative jewelry are not only encouraged but expected. These items show others your travel and life experiences, not to mention your individual fashion sense. But remember, the same rules above apply.

L-O-V-E

Love is great. It changes what we think about the opposite sex. It makes up believe that love exists, and makes us better people.

But, oh....the things we do for love.
We fight for love. We sometimes change for love. We lose the ones we love, for love.

Love is painful. It can make you change parts about yourself you never knew you would be able to change, or want to change. It makes you want to be with someone fully, and realize that it makes you a better person when you are with that person.

But it also hurts to lose parts of your identity. The identity I had before I met Doug was wrapped up in me, being myself. This involved being single, fluffing my nest, and being alone, by choice. I loved my life. I still do, but I love Doug in my life.
I will never say that my life is better with Doug. My life was great when I was single. But the way I love Doug, can never be compared to the way I loved my life before him. He makes me a better person and makes me want to evolve past who I was. I never thought I would take my marriage as seriously as I do. But, it is sacred to me. I would do anything for it to stay as special as it is to me right now. I never thought I would see such a value in a relationship with another person. However, Doug is everything I could want in a spouse. But most of all, I am myself around him, which is what he loves about me, and what I love about our relationship.

For me to find someone I can be myself with, who accepts me as I am completely, is worth any sacrifice.