Although I have always thought that wearing clothing that advertises a school, country, company, or other large corporate institution is kind of stupid, nonetheless I will always have a soft spot in my heart for University of Michigan Apparel. You see, I am a graduate of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and I suppose my college days, while no where near the best years of my life, certainly were among the most significant. When I was there, I would scarcely if ever wear University of Michigan apparel. I had one University of Michigan t shirt which I had received as a present, and which I would don occasionally when all of my other clothing was dirty, and that was about it. I would never wear the U of M hat that my aunt got me for my birthday, or any other school apparel.
It isn't that I disliked my school. Far from it, actually. But it seemed like a vulgar thing to show some kind of allegiance to a large institution, almost like go around waving a flag in peoples faces. I thought, and still think, that school spirit is for frat boys and wannabes who've got nothing to do but watch sports on tv. Nonetheless, sometimes not that I'm living across the country, I get a little nostalgic for my home town. When I do see someone with University of Michigan Apparel, I wonder if they are from Michigan, and it makes me feel like I'm with someone familiar. What is funny about this is that my own friends scarcely, if ever, wear University of Michigan Apparel.
All the University of Michigan Apparel, my favorite is the more subdued stuff. I'm not a big friend of the blue and gold – I find it a little bit garish and hard on the eyes. But the gray shirts with blue lettering look a little more classy and understated. I was always a big fan of Ann Arbor, and I liked it even more than the University. Therefore, when I see Ann Arbor stickers, t shirts, or other paraphernalia, it makes me even happier than seeing University of Michigan Apparel. I guess that was what was even more precious to me then the experience of college. Ann Arbor was the first place I lived away from my parents, and was able to understand what it was like to have some independence.