Unmentionables

Not too long ago, undergarments were something no one ever talked about.
When I searched for all the names for underwear I found: bloomers, pants,
skivvies, drawers, tightie whities, undies, knickers, boxers, BVD’s, panties,
underclothes, gotchies and briefs.  And, the word underpants still makes me laugh!

When I was in elementary school I had recurrent nightmares that I would
fall down in the playground, up would fly my skirt and I would not be wearing
any panties.  The idea of seeing someone’s panties was was a topic for six
year olds’ imaginations, viewed as something funny or a forbidden thrill.
How things have changed.

I was told by Mom and Dad that I was out soaking in a red-rimmed, white porcelain
basin in lieu of a swimming pool.  I was wearing my white “coconut pants” as I called my
terry-toweling panties.  I actually think that was a brilliant name for a three year old to
come up with.  Apparently I invented “streaking” when I removed my undies and took
off running down the road outside our suburban home.  Mom was after me in a flash.
 
At around the same age, my daughter Danielle was with me on a visit to an ice cream
social at the old-age home down the street.  She was dressed in her favourite below-
the-knee length pink dress.  She and a few other youngsters played on the floor in the
centre of the seniors and visitors gathered around in a circle.  We had been there
about an hour when I lifted Dani up onto my lap.  In so doing, I felt a soft, warm, bare
bum under her dress.  Horrified, we returned home to find the floral panties tossed on
her bedroom floor where she’d thrown them upon deciding that they were superfluous.
What can I say, like mother, like daughter?

Then, there are the men’s underpants…..which will remain unmentionable.

My Dad told us a story about being on a school bus with his art class
heading to the Art Gallery of Ontario for a fieldtrip.  About one third
of the teens and Dad happened to be watching a group of people waiting
for the streetcar.  Suddenly, a woman’s underpants fell down around her
ankles and naturally, everyone broke up laughing.  I asked Dad what she
did about them and to his recollection the scarlet-faced woman just
kicked them off.  And, being teenagers, the incident of the woman and
her panties remained more memorable than any of the art works they had
viewed at the gallery.

The only thong I relate to.  Also known as flip flops in the 1960’s.

A big thank you to Google for the images.