JAN BROGAN _ As the Boston Globe noted yesterday, our governor of Massachusetts has taken to props. He wore a black fleece emblazoned with the initials for MEMA "Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency," when he toured the town of Greenfield in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene -- even though he took no real part in the recovery action and surely, it was too hot for a fleece in August.
Apparently, it's the same fleece he wore during snowstorms. And he's also been known to put on firefighter jacket when the publicity moment felt right.
It's nothing new for a politician to try to convey an image. Scott Brown wore his barn jacket and drove a pickup truck when he was campaigning, and I think Ronald Reagan might have started it all with an informal sweater.
Tina Fey in her memoir BossyPants (which I heartily recommend) reveals that she first wore her glasses in the the SNL News segment because 
forgot to put in her contact lenses, but the glasses were so popular, they became du rigeur.
forgot to put in her contact lenses, but the glasses were so popular, they became du rigeur.That got me to thinking about props. They're for everyone really. We already talked Tuesday about the high priced yoga pants I indulge in for yoga (although I hadn't yet told you about the mat, the yoga bag, or the Ugg sandals that complete the experience) and now I'll admit I have certain clothes I only wear when I'm on Martha's Vineyard - all of them longer, looser, and maybe a bit more hippyish. I'll spare you and not go into all my tennis gear - which goes well beyond sneakers and racquets.
But I even have props for writing - and that's outright silly. But yes, I have special typewriter earrings for when I'm doing speaking engagements or book signings, and a Shakespeare coffee mug for when I'm writing at my desk. (it was a gift, but still, is that pretentious, or what?)
At any rate, I think we all have our props. My question is: What are yours?
