Phyllis; Please accept my profound apology for my insensitive comment that has upset you so.

I've just returned home early from my abbreviated weekend in Atlantic City as I'm leaving for New York in the morning to visit my oldest son.... otherwise I would not have read the thread until Monday morning.

I don't know if any explanation on my part will lessen the dramatic impact my comment has had upon your reaction to my offensive post.... but no personal offense was intended. I've read most of the posts in the rather long threads ... and I do appreciate some of the comments from most of those who felt they had to defend me in some manner in my absence ... and I thank them for their remarks.

Please understand that I was born in Jersey City, NJ and I am a life-long resident of New Jersey where that term is very common ... and commonly used by Italians. It was not meant to be a slur upon those of Italian heritage. It was meant to describe a way of dress that is common on the Jersey Shore and it's beaches and boardwalks and cities. It was not meant to be a slur, as my fellow club member from Florida tried to infer. If that is his bigoted understanding of the term ... it is certainly not mine.

The term (to me) is not a "tank top" as someone had suggested that I could have used as an alternative. The term (to me) ... and has been for all my 65 years on this planet ... describes a white sleeveless undershirt. I am truly sorry that the term has offended you as much as it has. If I had it to do all over again, I would not have made my post. I was merely attempting to inject some levity to answer a question posed on thechipboard about banquet attire ... at someone else's expense (yours) which I realize now. I know the damage has been done. There is nothing more that I can say or to do ... except to delete the offending post ... which I promise I will do as soon as I complete this post.

I have nothing against the Italian people. We get along just fine. I have Italian relatives. They are great people. I happen to be of Polish and Scottish decendants ... which has nothing to do with the subject at hand. I truly believe that my comment was used to describe a garment or a piece clothing and was not directed at any individual or an ethnic group. I will try to be more sensitive in the selection of my words in the future with respect to ethnic remarks that some folks may find offensive.

I respect your inner feelings, and obviously you feel that I have insulted you. I don't know if this apologetic post will have any effect on changing anything. I would hope that my sincere explanation has not made things worse and I truly hope that you will accept my apology with the same sincerity that I am extending it to you (and to anyone else of Italian heritage) who may have been offended but did not make a comment one way or the other.