Hawaiian swimsuits — 1988
One of the most amusing moments of my life occurred during a wonderful vacation to Hawaii in January 1988. Susan and I went with some close friends to an anesthesia convention on the island of Maui, and we thoroughly enjoyed the sun, surf, snorkeling, sailing, shopping, and sundry other scintillating sensations. Despite the fact that the wife of our traveling companions had purchased 2 new swimsuits for the trip in Salt Lake City, she bought 3 more within the first 36 hours of our arrival on Maui. She claimed that the Hawaiian suits were more “suitable” to her figure. Every time my anesthesia colleague and I would have a break from our lectures, we would go back to one of our hotel rooms to meet our wives, and his wife would have a new suit to model for us. My friend would moan and groan about the cost of each suit, and lament the fact that Susan was not buying anything new. When we returned during our next break, lo and behold, there was Susan in a new swimsuit. My friend let out a cheer and made a big fuss over the purchase. His wife had remained inconspicuous behind Susan, saying very little. When my friend finally addressed his wife, he congratulated her on finally letting Susan do some of the shopping and spending. It was only then that she sheepishly opened her beach smock, revealing her 4th new Hawaiian swimsuit. My friend collapsed in a heap on the nearest bed, feigning cardiac arrest and respiratory failure. Susan and I laughed until our sides ached. My friend failed to see the humor in the incident. The remainder of the trip was equally entertaining. We ate pineapple, sailed in a catamaran, saw whales, surfed on body boards, relaxed, and admired the six new swimsuits purchased by my colleague’s wife.
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