SORTING PILES

After an unusual shopping spree, I felt an urgent pull to purge our clothes closets. Sifting through the assortment of threads can be a daunting chore.

My friend Marita sold her house after living there for several decades. With me living too far to help with the physical chores, I was on the other side of the telephone line as she physically and emotionally, exhaustingly, packed up her belongings and parted with those of her late husband.

That inspired me to follow a guide suggested to her by her friend Ruth. She made a pile to keep, a batch to purge and donate, and added a stack of undecideds. The trouble is that many of those clothing items hold memories, making them difficult to part with now.

When my husband walked into our bedroom and saw my pile for donation, he said, “You’re getting rid of all that?” Then, he suggested which items I should keep, commenting on how many years I’ve had some of the pieces, adding, “Those you don’t need,” or, “That’s still in style.”

Thinking of “my” friend Ruth, gone but surely not forgotten, saying that if you don’t wear something for one season, get rid of it, lightened the moment. For more about that Ruth, see my blog posts at sharonmarkcohen.com, When Your Finger Hurts, Your Finger Hurts, dated January 24, 2023, and, I Remember Every Face but Not All The Names, dated December 19, 2023.

“My” Ruth was a minimalist in the days before that word was invented. She cautioned me that if she could let go of her deceased mother, she could get rid of her dear mother’s serving bowl. We all seemingly need a friend named Ruth to keep us on the straight and narrow.

My casual wear clothes rack is still heavy, but I’m moving on. Next, I plan to tackle the business casual before attempting to purge my formal evening wear. Wish me luck with this long overdo project! If things work out the way I hope, I’ll start purging shoes and may even start to enjoy this.