Snow Day

Woke up this morning to a blanket of white on the lawn...and the street. We're supposed to get from 3-5 inches today, which makes it a perfect day to stay in and write, read, bake, and (oh dear) take stock of my closet. My general rule of thumb is...not worn for two years, off it goes. Goodwill, Salvation Army, the local shelter, whoever needs it. I obviously don't. Of course, there are those sentimental "have to keeps". The dresses I wore to my daughter's rehearsal dinner and wedding, my own wedding dress (even though I doubt I could get into it) and a few 'comfort clothes'...those tops or bottoms that let me totally relax and feel cozy. Old sweatshirts are my favorites. It's like wearing a hug, especially if someone special gifted me with it. An old Penn State Nitanny Lion, a burgundy "Snow Somewhere Else"...both from my good friend Diane. A "Books, Cats, Life is Good" oversized one I gifted myself :o)...old and soft. So I may tackle that closet this afternoon, just to rediscover what I have that can stay...or go.

Phil has his own closet. Walk-in, plenty of hangars and shelves for the various tricks of his trade. Evening dress, tuxedos, favorite pieces from his stage days in The Big Apple, and an oversized steamer trunk. It was the last thing he packed before leaving New York for Portland and contains memories as well as cordless headsets and old CDs and DVDs. Most importantly, it has his personal photo album. Something he hasn't shared with anyone, not even Sam. Phil only opens it when he can't find something he needs anywhere else. Along with the good memories, it also contains things he can't throw away but doesn't want to see.

Sam;'s closet? Organized, just like Sam's life used to be...when his wife took care of the details. Her death hit him hard, although he keeps the details close to his heart. Her clothes are in the bureau...he can't bring himself to donate them anywhere. They were married six months before she died...and strangely, his attempt to keep the closet orderly is a way to honor her memory. Corny, but true. Sam stows his memories inside her hope chest.

We all have closets of one kind or another...emotional, physical, even spiritual. Sometimes it helps to get in and clean them out...or at least appreciate what we have stored there.