Boots, Bear and his Place on the Couch

Memorial Day.  Today I decided to clean a bit before searching out to find something “fun” to do while my husband worked on this holiday.  I began with my dresser.  Great place to start if you want to get things organized for summer. 

A couple of times a year I would beckon the boys to their room and go through their clothes with them.  “Does this fit?” I would ask.  “Does this?”  “How about this?”  We’d usually end up with a heap of seasonal clothes that were too small, worn out or never liked.  It always felt good to discard or give away the “old” stuff.  But there were always the favorites.  Somehow they made the cut and were around for a long time.  Those were the clothes with the memories.

The jersey of the favorite football player.  Bought with his own money.  Worn to tatteredness but so comfy.

The shirt with no sleeves.  Killed his biggest buck in that shirt.  Must be lucky. 

The sweatpants that were so long when mom bought them but hit him at the knees the last time he wore them.  Orange in color and a favorite to wear because he virtually grew up in them.

Finding his boots and his bear I had roughly pushed to the back of my closet brought to mind the personality of “my baby”.  The bear was a gift, from a dear friend.  Even at that young age he knew she was a dear friend.  The bear that was snuggled every night as he was tucked into bed.  The bear he hid, forgotten under the covers in the light of day….but found every night.  The bear that went from soft to matted over the years.  The loving side of my son. 

The boots…..rough and tumble.  He loved cowboy boots.  Easy to slip on…I think they made him feel he could conquer the world.  The firm sides of the hard soled foot wear wouldn’t gather stickers and would protect his feet from his “heifer” of the year.  This was the sturdiness of my son.

His place on the couch.  When at home, he could usually be found in that spot.  Socks.  Always socks around him on the floor.  Empty dishes could be found there too.  Comfortable, lazy Saturdays.  Hanging out with his family.

~ Closet memories.  Some of the best.