Old Shirts are like old friends

  It may not be the same time of the year for everyone. Some people choose Spring or Summer while others choose the Fall or Winter. But at some time during the year we do a bit of housekeeping. Around the end of school is popular. I am not talking about the dusting, vacuuming or washing windows. That can always wait until another day. I am talking about sorting out clothes, getting rid of those things that are old and worn out. But that is not always an easy thing to do..

   I like to frequent LL Bean in Freeport at least several times a year and happened to do so several weeks ago. There were some great sales and markdowns. As I looked over a selection of shirts, of which I needed none, I picked up on the conversation taking place next to me. The husband had selected several new shirts to purchase. His wife reluctantly agreed but only if he would throw some of his older ones away.

   “You need to get rid of the shirts that you don’t wear anymore, the ones that are all faded and worn. Look at the one you're wearing today. Why do you wear that out in public? The cuffs are all frayed and the collar is torn. Who knows what color it was when it was new.”

      “I like this shirt,” was his quick reply. “It is comfortable. You gave it to me for a birthday present when we first started dating. Do you want me to throw it out?”

   I recalled the words of a Mary Chapin Carpenter song.

   “This shirt is old and faded. All the color is washed away. I’ve had it for many damn years now than I can count anyway. I wear it beneath my jacket with the collar turned up high. So old I should replace it, but I’m not about to try.”

   Old clothes may be like an old friends. They are comfortable, fit us just right and often have some great stories to share. We can sometimes even get an extra day of wear before putting them into the washer because they looks so bad. (Not our friends)

   For some folks it’s a shirt, for others, a sweater or pair of old jeans. But as often as we try to replace them, it is sometimes just too difficult to throw the old ones away.

   Back at the store the discussion........

   “The next time you put that shirt in the wash, I am going to throw it in the rag bin!”

   With sadness on his face, the husband put the new shirts back on the shelf. He was sad, not about not buying new shirts, but sad he might have to toss out the old one. To be sure, that shirt would never see the laundry basket again. It will find a special hiding place.

   “This shirt is a grand old relic with a grand old history. I wear it beneath my jacket with the collar turned up high. So old I should replace it, but I am not about to try.”

Changing seasons signal new nighttime sounds

Each season has its own unique and beautiful features; a glistening white snow in winter, colorful flowers of spring, a bright summer sun and the red, yellow and orange leaves of fall. But each season also brings with it its unique sounds, especially at night.

It appears that summer has finally arrived.. Those early warm days in March turned out to be just a tease for a season that eventually arrived, and arrive it did with an over-abundance of raining days and cool nights.

But there is another way to know that summer has arrived. I know its summertime, not only by the flowers in the garden or the need to cut the lawn almost daily, but by the sounds of the nighttime.

As the sun sets and evening settles in, the birds sing their last song for the day. The frogs and toads begin their nightly chorus. It seems that one frog starts and soon others join in to the rhythmic melody. More frogs and toads from a nearby pond, not to be outdone, get into the mix and while it's not the soundtrack from “The Sound of Music,”it is fun to listen as they try to out do each other.

Then, as quickly as it starts, it stops! Silence. Not a single croak. But soon it starts again and lasts well into the night. (Now if I can just keep the neighbor's cat away.)

But there are some nighttime sounds not quite so entertaining. Settling in for a good night's sleep, the peacefulness and calm is interrupted by the buzzing of a pesty mosquito. Left ear? Right ear? I slap my forehead. Missed!

The room is dark. I can't see it, but I sure do hear it. It makes another pass. Has it landed on my hand? Slap. Missed again.

I know! I'll stick my head under the pillow. Maybe it will go away. But now I can't breathe.

From the other side of the bed come the words...” just get up, turn on the light and kill it?”

That would be too easy. This had turned into war now. If I can't outwit a little old mosquito...

The battle continues to rage. I listen. No buzzing. The frogs continue to sing in the background. Without notice the mosquito lands on my nose. Sneak attack. Swat. Missed again. Ouch!

“Turn on the light!!!” This time the suggestion is a bit more forceful.

Even thought it would signal defeat, I turn on the light and within several minutes, the deed is done.

“Keep me awake, will you! Take that.” Splat.

Lights out and peace and quiet returns, except for the frogs as they cheerfully continue their”froggy refrains”. Suddenly there are a series of splashes and I know the neighbor's cat is probably close by.

All of a sudden, out of the darkness come that annoying sound,.. another one?

Yes, summer is truly here again. Sleep well.