Wearing camouflage is a fashion statement of sorts in Alaska and elsewhere. It can mean many things: an enthusiasm for hunting, service in, affinity for, or conscious imitation of the military, rebellion, machismo—like most vanity license plates, its true meaning is known only to the wearer, yet stands open to interpretation by the observer.
I have only recently become reconciled to wearing camouflage when I’m not hunting. I’m still shy about wearing it in public, although many people do here. Recently, a pretty lady in the grocery store teased me for wearing a pair of camo trousers, saying that she couldn’t see me in the aisle. I didn’t have the wit to reply, “at least not from the waist down.”
Where is that Blackwell character when he’s needed? Probably not out in the woods, where you’ll find this fashion victim committing “camo clash” (Photo: MIchelle Zeiger).