Day 123. Family Issues.

Stylish, wouldn't you agree???

I am going to tell you today about a family secret... it's something we don't talk about very much. We prefer to "keep it in the closet," if you will. We Freeman girls have a very deeply rooted trait in common, and it's one that has been passed down since my grandmother. Are you ready for it?

We can't get rid of clothes!

I think, with every generation, a bit more healing has taken place. My mom has it the worst, among all of us. It's not that we don't go through things, because we do!... all in due time, of course. But we have this evil, quiet, little voice that continues to repeat itself, "...but what if I come back in style someday? What if you want to wear me later, and you have forgotten that you put me in the pile for Good Will?" So, instead of just throwing said item into a "give away" pile, we feel better if we pass it around to one another. Piles and piles of clothes get stuffed into garbage bags, and we "let" (like it's a privilege) all of our female family members go through it before we get rid of it. After all, if someone near and dear to us could use it (and/or return it, should we ever want it back), then why not "keep it in the family"?

I have fought this pattern of behavior for YEARS! I like to believe I've broken the cycle. I go through clothes pretty often, although I have a more difficult time getting rid of my kids' things than I do my own... but that has nothing to do with the story.

My mother, bless her ever-loving heart, came over to my house yesterday with FOUR bags full of blouses that came out of her closet. She had gone through it over the weekend, and wanted to make sure I didn't want any of it before she got rid of it completely. This particular top just made me chuckle, because I immediately identified it as one of the items I had in my own closet... when I was in HIGHSCHOOL!!!!!

I even found photographic evidence. It's a yearbook pic, so it's not in color, and not the best quality, but I think you'll be able to tell that it is indeed the same article of clothing. Oh dear. Needless to say, I do NOT plan on keeping the blouse. I love my mother, and I believe she will agree with me that there are some things better off given away!!! :)

P.S.  It's perfectly reasonable that you make jokes about the hair.  But it was 1992/93, my junior year, and believe it or not... we all had "BIG" hair back then!