Missing Sweater

When I took the pictures of this sweater I did not think that I was setting us for actually really needing the pictures. But that's how life works it seems.
This sweater has special significance for me.  My best friend, Emily, loaned it to me a few years ago. I had left Emma home with Steve and headed to Chicago to spend some time with my friend. I don't remember what we did, but I clearly remember wanting a warmer shirt or sweater. Emily had a lot of clothes, but she is smaller than I am so the choices were somewhat limited.  As soon as she showed me the striped sweater I chose it. I loved it instantly and I know that it was also one of Emily's favorites.
Back in our high school days people used to think that Emily and I were sisters. We both had long, dark hair. We both wore red plaid shirts as coats. We spent a lot of time together.  One thing we loved to do was shop at resale shops and garage sales. We often found things that we both wanted- shirts or sweaters were often equally desired by both of us. We took turns keeping the contested items. We may have even shared a sweater or two.
So here we were many years later and reliving the good old days through fashion. I think Emily let me wear the sweater home to wash it.  What I didn't know was that Emily had emailed Steve and told him to wrap the sweater up for my birthday. So he hid it and on my birthday he gave it to me from Emily. It was the best present! When I talked to Emily she told me it was mine until I decided to return it to her.

I wore the sweater a lot, always thinking of my friend. I loved that sweater and got excited every winter when I would "find" it among my other winter clothes. It was my favorite sweater ever.
Emily came up for Annika's baptism and I wore the sweater on that Saturday. I knew when I put it on that day that it would be one of the last times I wore it. I felt like it needed to go back to Emily. Of course she commented on it and said something like maybe if a certain guy saw me in it, it would make him fall in love with me. Out of context that sounds odd but there you have it. So I didn't say what I was thinking but I knew that I would be giving it back to her soon- before winter was over.
Then before Christmas after washing the sweater one last time I wrapped it and put it in an envelope along with a nice long note to Emily. I told her how much I loved the sweater and how great it was of her to share it with me. I told her that I weaved some magic into it for her. She would know if the spells worked if after wearing the sweater a few times, a certain guy falls in love with her, she finishes and publishes a book that makes her famous and if she comes into some money. I put it in the mail using the drop box and automated teller on December 24th. That was the last I ever felt it. Emily never received it.
While talking with Emily after new years she said something about her guy saying he loved her. But she didn't mention the sweater or my note. So I asked her if she got a package from me even though I knew the answer. We're convinced that someone stole the package (it has happened at her place before apparently) and hope that the person feels really bad. I am deeply distressed that I lost the sweater that we both loved so much. And of all the packages and boxes we sent for the holidays, that was the one that I should have insured. That was the one that if I had thought about it before hand I would have said would be the worst one to lose.
So this is my tribute to a thing. Something that meant a lot to my best friend and I, but that is just a thing. At least I still have my friend! She asked me a couple of times to share what I had written in the note and was amazed that her guy said he loved her and that I wrote about that in my note. I guess the sweater magic was stronger that we knew!

Discarding felines

Discardia is a book we all should read, especially if we want to organize and simplify our lives. This book has inspired me to be more rigorous in my pursuit of reducing clutter in my house! One idea presented in the book is to consider an item you no longer use or want but hesitate getting rid of it because of sentimental or nostalgic reasons.  So photograph it, write about it and then get rid of it. (My personal caveat: get rid of it responsibly- trash it only if there is no way to recycle, reuse or thrift it.) This is my first post for my new discardian self. 

My husband's grandmother gifted us the kitty in the flowers wall hanging back when we had cats or still admitted that we liked cats. (The whole story of how we came to not have cats anymore is a long humorous and heart wrenching tale for another day.) Now that I think about it, this may have been a birthday present to me.  When I see it I think of how sweet Bugga was to think of me. I feel like it represents that I may have a more important place in the family than I thought.  Still...this wall hanging has not seen the light of day or hung flush to a wall in over 10 years. It's time to say goodbye.

My mom made me the large cat wall hanging back when I was still in college (I think.) It did hang on our basement wall when we first moved into this house, but it no longer fits my style or who I am.  Once upon a time I had dreamed of being a wildlife vet specializing in large cats. I loved large cats. I still find them impressive and awe inspiring, but the dream has long since passed. And I really don't want to decorate my house with them. That reminds me that I have some posters that need to go as well. Goodbye big cats!