If by chance you happen to come across George H.W. Bush and he has on a pair of outrageously colored or mismatched socks, don't worry — the octogenarian former president isn't losing his marbles.
If he caught you staring at the light and dark blue striped confections on his ankles at the commencement ceremonies at Dartmouth College last summer, where he received an honorary degree, he would not have thought you rude.
And if you couldn't help but gawk slack-jawed at the bright pink numbers he had on while watching the Houston Marathon last month, well that's fine too because, with his slacks jauntily hitched, that's kind of the reaction he was hoping for.
In fact, the more people look at his socks, the more he likes it. They're simple utilitarian garments, socks, but not when a former president wears them as a statement - actually more than a statement.
There was a time when a visitor at the 41st president's west Houston office invariably left with a little box containing presidential cuff links. These days, you might find yourself leaving with a pair of lobster socks — light blue creations emblazoned with the bright red crustaceans.
"It's his trinket now," says Jean Becker, his long-time chief of staff. "This is his signature gift. He's sort of becoming famous for his socks."
Bush says he has been a "colored socks fan" for some time, and that his penchant for wearing them at high profile events "is not a big thing" in his life. His staff, however, begs to differ.
"He used to wear them on special occasions and not very often," says Becker. "But he has lately gotten more outrageous. Now he goes out of his way."
It could be because recently, the 87-year-old president's ankles are more openly on display. He has been diagnosed with lower body parkinsonism, a condition that causes instability from the waist down, and he often uses a wheelchair. But for whatever reason, Becker says the "sock thing" has certainly ramped up a few notches in recent months.
He has green and black striped socks. Pink and salmon striped socks. Orange socks with yellow polka dots. Socks with the American flag. Orange and pink socks. Blue striped socks with lavender accents at the top.
In November, the actor Kyle MacLachlan visited Bush in his office and was much taken with the pink and salmon striped socks the president was wearing with his grey pin-striped suit and black loafers.
This got Bush thinking about Christmas presents. His staff swept into action and within no time, the office was awash in boxes of socks, which went out to select friends and family, including MacLachlan, as gifts.
For years, Bush's principal supplier of socks has been Spike Heminway, a long-time friend and golfing buddy from Kennebunkport, Maine, where the Bush family has a seaside estate.
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