And that’s why my brief run-in with Wonder Woman circa 1979 qualifies me to comment on the new “We need to resuscitate this character so we’re changing her look but we only plan on keeping this change for a few years at most” Wonder Woman costume switch just announced by DC comics.

Unfortunately, it was designed by the same dude (comic book artist Jim Lee) who redesigned The X-Men costumes in the 90′s. With Wonder Woman on the left and X-Men‘s 90′s era Rogue on the right, one thing is clear: chicky, shoulder-padded leather jackets and gloves will never be restrained by petty things like “out of style” and “fashion boundaries”.

That said, if you’re thinking “geek”/”this post is lame”, well… I can’t argue with that.

My genetics are strong. I’m sorry.

Love,

Papa

Way, way, way back in the carefree 70′s I was a blond kid visiting my Grandparents in the oak hills of Los Altos California, sucking down fresh apricots, hiding/peeing (yeah, sorry about that) under mandarin orange trees and chasing blue-bellied lizards with a roaming band of dogs led by a black lab named Jed.

The neighbors had a pool tucked away in their back yard and generously allowed the grand kids access with permission and adult supervision– two things this kid didn’t have one summer morning. I’m sure I whined and complained at the world’s lack of justice and how “nobody liked me”, but nothin’.

So I was played for a sucker.

My Mom suggested instead of going to the pool, I could fill mixing bowls and brownie pans with water, put them on the patio and go “swimming” in them. Apparently, sloshing my feet and hands in cookware sounded awesome– not only was I pacified, I was all over it. Naked.

I’m not sure how I was coaxed into “swimsuit optional”, but I tiptoed out to “pool time” self-consciously ultra-commando but somewhat OK with all the incriminating nudity– assured skinny dipping on the back patio was worry free because “no one would see me”.

I pretty quickly realized dunking my naked butt into bowls and pans of tap water would never have anything to do with swimming.

Still, Mom and Gramma did steal a shot before the neighbor with the pool stopped by–through the “no one will see you” back patio– and sent me and my naked loins fleeing into the house in a mess of dumb, burning shame.