Spring Closet Cleaning

It takes a lot for me to get a Spring cleaning bug, but today I had it. Maybe because I feel a renewed sense of hope as the birds are busy with their nests, crocus are meeting the rise of daffodils, and I get to hug fellow vaccinated friends. With renewed energy, I decided to begin the process of cleaning out my bedroom closet. Now, mind you, I am not one to part easily with anything, much less the long fringed denim skirt I’ve had since my early 20’s. I thought someday I might be invited to a western themed party…..or take a square dance class. You, too, would like to have that skirt on hand, trust me.

I started with my dresses. I realize we are coming out of a pandemic and I might need a dress again someday, but really, do I need to keep the embroidered Swiss Alps themed jumper I’ve had since forever? I don’t know, maybe I could use still it for a Sound of Music event at some point. I considered it, but ended up putting it in the donation pile.

How many scarves does one need. I lost count as I collected them from the top shelf behind my kids’ memory boxes (that’s a whole other day). Remember the 70’s when Farrah Fawcet would tie a scarf around her thin little neck with her button-down shirt tucked into her Gloria Vanderbilt jeans on Charlie’s Angels? I suppose that look is a bit outdated and I’ve forgetten about them since about 1970. Also, I no longer have any Vanderbilt jeans so off the scarves went to the donation pile.

And what about those Christmas sweaters? I realize these are no longer in style, but I have always loved them. After much angst, I decided to keep only one; the Rudolph sweater with the big white faux fur collar. My daughters still want to borrow that one after all. They say it’s for the “ugly Christmas sweater” parties, but I know they, too, really love it. The rest of them went in the donation pile.

My wedding shoes were wrapped in a shoe bag. I pulled them out from behind my knitting bag. I loved them. Gold stiletto heels with little blingy pineapples on them. Just priceless. For a moment, I dismissed the fact that I wore them almost 40 years and three sizes ago, but the truth is I could never walk in them now. Donation pile.

I spent the afternoon finding, reflecting, making piles and ultimately letting go. There are many lessons of the past year, one of which is we don’t need much. (Note, I did not put any of my sweatpants in the donation pile.) One pair of black pants and a nice green blouse can go a long way. I felt good loading my car with donation bags of treasures. I like to think there is some fun-loving girl out there who is surprised to learn her first post Covid event is a country and western music festival. She might need a long fringed denim skirt…..