Colors. Many colors. Pale, bright, patterned, textured. Tights, that is. My passion defies my age and logic. I adore wearing them. This morning started off a little better just by adding a scarlet red pair to my standard black attire. Here I come, school: bright, blue and ready!

The romance began when I was a geeky English major reading Women in Love by D.H. Lawrence. I embraced the image of the two sisters walking together in their colored tights. So, so free. I know, geeky.

Back then, I took for granted the plethora of colors, the variety of designs, the joy of wearing them. Over the years, the scarcity of styles and color cooled my ardor. There was only black in varying shades....until I spied a sparkly silver polka-dotted pair on clearance. The discovery of red tartan-plaid and brilliant yellow pantyhose thrilled me. My quest for color and patterns was renewed.

I ignore the looks and the comments I get now when I don a pair. It doesn’t matter. I explain to people that teachers have more leeway in their fashion sense. My tights make me happy. I know I can face a challenging day or a long, bleak March with a quick glance down at my blue rose-flowered tights or maybe the ones featuring the nine planets.