I've realized over the years that now only did I hit the estate and yard sales and flea markets to hard buying everything from Pyrex to Lionel trains and everything else, but clothes as well. I have closets and bins full of clothes, mostly that don't fit, that I've never worn and will most likely never wear again. There's something mental there, I just don't know what it is.
Truth be told I have probably work a few pieces of clothing 1,000 times, rather than 1,000 pieces of clothing at least once. At least I've never brought new, everything second hand, there's something mental about that. It must be some kind of body image disorder. It probably started way before I had weight loss surgery in 2013, when I topped the scales at just about 270. But even when I went down to 185, I still wasn't the fashion guy you would think I was by looking at the collection of clothes I have, well had, which could have clothed a large percentage of any people in need in any big city.
I have, well had, too many shirts, pants, t-shirts, jackets, shoes, and socks. Add to that more belts then I knew, and that's from a guy whose pants are usually hanging down in the back. And the ties, when did I ever wear a tie. I've been a firemen, photographer, fishing guide, and nurse, no need for ties there, but I had them just in case. And when I did wear one if usually didn't go with the outfit I had on.
So out it went. First into contractor bags and then placed in our college dorm looking living room. A couple of chairs, a card table that is used as a TV stand, and folding chaise lounge for much needed naps. it's getting real, and real quick. While we have been in a lull this past week with the uncertain feeling of how, when and if the sale would proceed, now it's go time.
The truth is, buy a big house, and you could, and we did, fill it to the brim with lots and lots of stuff. There's a ton of closets here, and we did our best to fill them. The homes we are looking
at have a closet in each room and maybe an extra one somewhere on the floor plan, but those are designed to store things you use, and wear, regularly. There isn't room for an extra 500 things on hangers that don't fit and span the four seasons of the year as we see in the Northeast. A couple of this, and a couple of that, and if you don't wear it, get rid of it. There's no place to hide anymore, and bot is that scary.
So after church today we noticed a donation bin behind the church and luckily is was just about empty. So we were able to do our first, well one of many over the last few months, clothing donation drops. As with everything else we have rid ourselves of, getting rid of all the clothes is like removing a weighted blanket that has weighed us down. Weighted blankets are great, they make us feel secure when they are on top of us, but they are also restrictive, and limit movement, and that's what too much stuff feels like.
For a while as I edited I was walking around in my underwear so I could try things on and off, but as the hours went by I was just once overing things and making a decision, especially after I checked the size. Our new life is coming, and maybe the outfits of old were meant to be worn during earlier chapters of my wife. Maybe it is time to start fresh, and pick up some new clothes along the way. we've already been to all the Goodwill's and thrift stores in and around Hilton Head if I need to stock up again. Or maybe, just maybe, I'll actually get some clothes that weren't owned by someone who got run over or passed away. Boy, that just might be refreshing, but it's scary as well.
And on this memorial Day we thank all of the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice during their time of service in one of the branches of our military. Cemeteries are full of people who died protecting our freedoms and allowing us to remain the greatest country on Earth. Above is the message outside of the Shady Rest in Bayville, Bob Popovic's old restaurant.