The Closet Purge Returns
Yes, it’s back. I’m cleaning out my clothes again. I’m not
sure why that happens so regularly but I find that if I clean out my clothing,
whether due to size changes (fortunately, I’m not getting bigger these days),
boredom, or just a general need to clean, I feel better. And I would bet there
are a lot of people out there like me.
So this week, it was mainly the dresser. I went after
anything I haven’t worn in the last summer—most of the gutting was on the
summer side of things. It wasn’t a lot, but I have a nice little pile going. I
still have a couple of drawers to go elsewhere—yes, there is an elsewhere with
odds and ends that don’t really fit into a specific season. But I’m willing to
bet there are items in there that I haven’t even looked at in a couple of
years. I remember a pair of shorts I bought for when I first tried out yoga. I
must have scared the class not only with my efforts to get to the various
positions—a topic for another day—but with the outfit I wore. Looking back I
have to ask myself, “Self, what were you thinking?!?!?!
Next, it will be the fall/winter/early spring items. I don’t
think there’s as much there because I’ve been weeding out that side of things
regularly. I do need to hit the coat closet in the front hall though. And that’s
where I might even “lose” some of my husband’s treasured items. I helped my
daughter “redo” her front coat and whatever-we-can-hide-in-there closet
recently. A lot of the “hidden treasures” weren’t hers, but were stashed by her
husband. I think her thinking was that he hadn’t mentioned them lately so he
won’t miss them. She knew what really had to be kept; the rest has met the
dumpster of history. But she felt really good after the purge. She also
routinely clears her daughter’s closet of outgrown clothing. Of course, since
my granddaughter is only just 11 months old that can happen every 2 weeks
without fear of losing anything.
On a side note, personally, I like the idea of people
passing their clothing on by way of donation or giving them to specific people
who need them. My granddaughter is a benefactor of that policy, which has given
her a huge—and very fashionable-wardrobe. If eventually she gets a little
sister, that kid will also be set for clothes. And if there is a little
brother, well, someone out there will become the latest mini fashionista.
Other Side of the Closet
Returning to my main point, my next question is this: How is
it that no matter how often we women clean out our wardrobes, the men have
nothing to purge? I mean, really? My husband hasn’t needed to wear a suit daily
to work in years. If he has one on, it’s either black or navy blue, sometimes with
a pinstripe. And he’s wearing a red tie. He doesn’t have to tell me he has a
meeting that day; I can just see that he’s going to be talking to the bankers. Plus,
in the last couple of years he’s lost 25 pounds. A number of clothes are
hanging on him. So when I ask if he has anything to add to the donation bag,
the answer is usually no, or he puts in one really old pair of running shorts
that I then take out of the bag because they’re really not something that
should be given as a donation. It would be embarrassing. Therefore, there’s
nothing from his side of the closet. Really?
Anyway, I think I’ve gotten rid of some stress now, which is
always good. I’m going back to the purging area now—I have one more drawer to
do.
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