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6 Days - Synonyms: clothing, garments, attire, garb, dress, wear, costume

Me and All these women I know - are we good Girl Scouts?  Be Prepared.  Waste not, Want not.  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned.  And All That Jazz.  

Or are we just hoarders?

The things I own that have any monetary value would fit into the eggplant JanSport backpack mom bought me when I was in Jr. High.  The sentimental stuff (like the JanSport backpack) would fill several boxes.  And then there's everything else.

Anyone who's ever packed up a house understands the burden of ownership.  All these things from which we used to derive some benefit or comfort become dead weight in boxes which strain our lower backs.  Why do we do it?  What keeps us from abandoning it all and walking out into the world with only a JanSport?

Well Me, for starters I have this preference for wearing clean clothes instead of dirty ones.  That are pretty.  And in good repair.  And useful (as in appropriate for some social situation or other).  Also, clothes that fit me.  So holey t-shirts go to the charity rag pile.  Comfy jeans go to the pack for Tulsa pile.  And my navy blue bridesmaid dress:
     Pretty? check. 
     Good repair? check. 
     Clean?  check. 
     Useful?  Well, how are we defining useful...... 
     Fits?  Stop asking tricky personal questions!!!!

My internal struggle for balance among preparedness, fiscal responsibility, sentimental attachment and trust in God's provision is spilling out over my wardrobe.  I don't want to replace what I could have kept.  I don't want to keep what I won't need.  Will I be back in an office and needing jackets and skirts?  Or a dress a black tie event?  Will I go on any dates worthy of pretty party dresses (or that underwear)?  Will the weather be cold enough to warrant wool sweaters and knee socks?   Each article of clothing nudges me to define my expectations about my future in Tulsa and beyond.

I've put off the inevitable as long as I can; I want the closets to be empty by the end of today.  Step one is to drop "useful" from the "to pack or not to pack" criteria.

Que Sera Sera, Ladies.

Comments

  1. AnonymousSaturday, March 08, 2014

    Unfortunately the process gets harder and more complicated with age - more sentimental reminders, more decisions to make - did my sister give me this .....; I haven't worn this dress in ..... years but I'm hoping to lose weight, etc. etc. Keep at it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. VanessaThursday, March 13, 2014

    AGH! I'm taking my own break from packing to read this - you've nailed it!

    ReplyDelete

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