I could ask someone else to do it-to fold them and bag them up. But clothes were very important to him and so now they are important to me. Folding each piece carefully as if he will be judged by their presentation at a donation center.
He had beautiful shirts. None were just a dull oxford blue. They were peacock colors, dozens of them Linen, a special favorite. Hell to iron though.
The same with the sweaters, Cashmere. Fitted.
He was not an extravagant man in any way, but he loved looking nice. A friend referred to him as dapper. That's about as close to it as I can get. I have heard stories about widows holding onto things years later. It always seemed crazy until now.
9 comments:
Oh Patti, that has to be so very difficult! I don't know how you can do it.
Tough one indeed. I remember cleaning out my mother's stuff with Jackie and one of my sisters. In that case, we were able to laugh, because she was something of a hoarder and pack rat. She had closets of shoes and purses, as well as more sets of dishes than a normal person considers enough.
Jackie immediately said that she remembered Phil's sweaters. Some of us just don't care much about clothes, but Phil was definitely a dapper guy.
We were both poor children but I never grew to care about clothes that much but Phil just loved looking nice. My daughter-in-law took three of them. I thought that she felt that way about him was heartening.
It's those details - the clothes and so on - that must be so hard, Patti. Thinking of you...
So sorry to hear this Patti. Putting away the things is always so tough. I remember my MIL crying bitterly when she decided to clean my father in law's cupboard after his passing away. Both of you in my prayers.
I helped my mother go through the closets and bagging up all my father's clothes after he died. My mother told me she couldn't do it alone. We ended up with six large bags of shirts, pants, and shoes. My father had been a Guidance Counselor at the local High School and always dressed in a suit and a tie. He had over 100 ties so that filled a bag all by itself.
We donated all my father's clothes to the neighborhood Clothes Closet that services poor people in our community. A few days later, my mother told me she felt a huge sense of relief.
My ninety-seventy year-old mother passed in mid December. Because of her demanding and somewhat shaky work situation my current girl friend didn't have enough time to help me go through the huge job sorting my mother's clothing and clothing accessories.
An ex g.f drove down to the San Fernando Valley from near Yosemite. The ex-gf spent three days helping me box/bag and donate the clothes and accessories. There was so much, some going back to the 1950s and newer stuff up to about ten years ago when Mom stopped being able to shop because off very limited mobility.
I couldn't have done it without the ex's help
It was incredibly devastating emotionally.
My heart is with you, Patti.
(Rick Libott)
Patti, an update on how you're doing, please!
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