Post by @MaryAustinBooks@mstdn.social

2026-11-08 13:08 UTC

I actually know how to tie a tie because I used to do it for my older brother when he went to a Jesuit high school. I was the only member of the family who'd do it without laughing at him. (I'm only posting this laughing now because the statute of limitations has long since run out on this.)

Replies (1)

@CommonSparrow@mindly.social 2026-11-08 13:19

@MaryAustinBooks@mstdn.social My dad didn't know how to tie a tie, either, and he hated wearing one. He owned exactly one tie, which was kept permanently tied for decades. He just loosened the knot enough to pull over his head, then re-tightened it, without ever undoing the knot. He wore it only on occasions like family weddings and funerals and other strict formalities. On other semi-dressy but less formal occasions, he wore his good suit, but with a turtleneck instead of a shirt and tie. Turtleneck plus suit gave him the look of a cool 1960's jazz musician, or a beat poet, or something like that. (We put him in the suit and turtleneck for his funeral, and threw away the tie, still tied in its decades-old knot.)

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