I can remember, I was in the first grade I think (1947 or 48), holding my mother's hand as we walked from the Navy's Oakwood Avenue Housing Project to my school a few blocks away. Ahead of us was a woman in housecoat, slippers and hair curlers holding her child's hand, headed the same way.

I remember thinking how ugly she looked. I said to myself that I would never, ever look like that in public.

I think decisions made at a very young age can become so entwined in the nerves and memory that they are part of you forever. From that day to this, I get up in the morning, perform my morning ablutions, and put on clean day clothes.

Even if I'm sick and planning on going back to bed. The actions of washing up and getting dressed mark the beginning of the day and the knowledge that whatever the day brings, I'm dressed and ready to face it.

Never have run around in curlers and housecoat and slippers. Never will.