Woody Cavenaugh

My philosophy, such as it is, regarding visiting someone in the hospital is to dress in a way that the patient is accustomed to seeing you. If I go to see my dad in a happy and colorful flowered print shirt and jeans it should send the message that "I'm not worried, you are going to be fine.". My opinion is that if dad is used to seeing me dressed casually and suddenly I show up in the hospital in my wedding/funeral suit he's going to do the math and realize that he is already married and that leaves just one other purpose for the suit. I would definately want to avoid that message.

At the hospital I noticed that my generation seemed to be thinking the same way I was, although I thought the "I am on my way home from the beach" look was a little too casual, and the "I just finished mowing grass" look was too dirty.

The generations older than me have a very different approach. They see being in the hospital as a special occasion you should dress for. They wore their Sunday finest, and some gentlemen wore hats. Now that I have spent a day sitting around a hospital lobby twiddling my thumbs waiting for the next 30 minute visiting period I have come to understand the older generation's way and I suppose it is good. This said, if I ever end up under then knife I would much rather come out of anestesia seeing you in swimwear than your sunday suit. (Especially true among the ladies!) If I my first thoughts comming out are wether or not I am alive, I would rather think I was in heaven rather than think I've come back for my own funeral. Funerals are boring, and the guest of honor is always stiff as a board.