What's the rule on keeping crap that you'll never wear, use or display, just because it's supposed to have some sort of sentimental value? I was cleaning out my closet recently (ditching all signs of maternity clothes) and came across several things I don't know what to do with. There are two GIGANTIC maroon sweatshirts that have been living in the bottom of my cedar chest for 12 years. One is from 1992, marking the Homecoming festivities of Gamma Sig, the service sorority I was in; the other, in the exact same hideous color, sports the name of the Penn State yearbook I was literary editor of in 1994-95. Why I thought it was a good idea to buy articles of clothing to show off these affiliations is beyond me.
I also have a rather ugly Pink Floyd T-shirt, bought at a concert a million years ago that I went to with an ass of an ex-boyfriend.
And then there's the giant mug (looks like a beer stein, which is ironic given that it was made for a bunch of kids under the legal drinking age) with the names of all 200 or so high school classmates in my graduating class of 1991. I cannot conjure up a face in my mind to match about 90 percent of those names. Stuffed inside the mug is my blue and gold tassel from graduation, and a bunch of seashells from a long-forgotten vacation.
Is this stuff treasured items from my past, or senseless junk that is cluttering up my closet? I put the sweatshirts in the pile of clothes to donate to Goodwill (how funny would it be if I came across someone in Beaufort wearing my "La Vie, the Penn State Yearbook" sweatshirt?) but then I felt guilty and saved them at the last minute.
The things I do treasure from those days are still with me -- they are the very friends who always post to this blog. So my question is, do I need to keep the sweatshirts, too? Am I the only one who hangs on to this stuff for no good reason?
12 comments:
Well, I'm a bit offended. I still have all of my sweatshirts and t-shirts from my college days AND...I still even wear them on occasion. When you work from home in a drafty old house you can use all the big old sweatshirts you can get your hands on.
Sure, some of the t-shirts have paint stains on them from various home improvement projects. But they make great pajamas, and the cleaner ones even see a trip to the gym every now and then.
Are you trying to tell me I'm pathetic?
the assclown of an ex...was that guy stewart?
Kim - Ooh, the perfect solution: I'll send this stuff to you! :)
Anonymous - Sherman.
Does this mean I should get rid of the Bon Jovi shirt from the concert we went to at the track a couple of years ago. You know me, I'm all for treasure.
I still have them. they even moved to this house with me. and are neatly folded on a shelf that I never touch. I have the maroon La Vie and I have a green one with letters on it.. like I'm ever going to where that. But I alwasy thing by kids will think it's neat.....
I'm sure you already know where I stand on this...If it hasn't been worn in the last 18 months, it gets heaved from my closet. Though I gotta tell ya, it took me a LOOOONG time to get rid of my Queensbury MIDDLE SCHOOL swim team sweatshirt :)
I had this beautiful sweater from Banana Republic that I wore a handful of times. I had to ditch it when I saw that it had pit stains!!
Yep, Amy... I wear the green one.
Sheil - One thing I'll never part with is a tiny little tie-dyed t-shirt I have that says "ROBYN" and "TROOP 10"
Lis - Didn't we buy that T-shirt together, to SHARE??? ;)
I agree with Sheila on this one...except, my limit is if it hasn't been used in 12 months...
Living in a 900 sq foot townhouse with no basement makes this almost ESSENTIAL.
Especially with all the baby stuff piling up in every corner.
I remember that beer mug from 1991! I can't believe you still have it. I kind-of wish I still had mine, so I think that should tell you where I stand on the "should I chuck it" question.
Sheil - I do still have the swim team sweatshirt from Middle School. Mine says "Deeber."
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