Packing up clothes for the last time

I spent some time this morning cleaning out clothes to give away. Phil cleaned out his clothes on the weekend. I was struck by how hard it is to give away clothes sometimes.

First were the older clothes in the back of the closets. The skinny/fat clothes that all woman seem to have in their closets. As I folded the $20 dress I bought more than 10 years ago for a cruise that I was going on with some friends, I closed my eyes was back on the ship. The long days in the sun and evenings spent dancing and having fun all came back. The urge to hang up the dress that I know I will never wear again was very strong.

Then there were the maternity clothes. Realizing that I would never again know the joy of having a life growing inside me was a sad moment. The excitement and fear of meeting a new child all came back.

The packing up of the baby clothes was perhaps the hardest. I had to make a couple of trips into Alex's room to see my little baby to remind myself that giving away clothes for 6 month and younger children did not mean my babies had grown up yet.

It is odd how emotionally attached people become to things, like clothes. There are still more clothes to go through - all the sports t-shirts from fun runs and swim meets over the years. Hopefully they will be easier to sort through than the clothes that were in the closet.