Stains
I don’t wear Juicy Couture to pull weeds from under the Black-Eyed Susans or walk through the neighborhood. If I looked like Jessica Simpson maybe I’d do my dirty work in designer sweats, but I go to Marshalls and buy shirts and shorts off the sale rack. In the summer I usually throw on workout clothes in the morning, either optimistically thinking of a walk, or because I haven’t had time to shower. This morning I was glad my workout shirts were discount specials.
When I pulled my white shirt from the dryer I noticed a spot. “ARRGGG!” How do people remember to pretreat? I don’t. Last week I bought the purple grape juice instead of the non-staining white grape juice. Graham had been asking for purple. Nostalgia for the purple stuff I grew up drinking filled me and I brought home the stain-making drink. The emotional decision cost me a shirt.
Merritt’s seizure medicine gets mixed with juice. Since we drink orange juice with pulp, and pulp doesn’t fit in a syringe, she gets the grape juice. Merritt also sputters every morning when the medicine goes in. I try to keep a burp towel on the front of my shirt, my own bib of sorts, but my white shirt was a magnet for the flying grape juice.
We like things clean, spot-free. But as I was folding the shirt, coming to terms with it’s altered state, I pondered the mark. Was it really so bad? It was a cheap shirt and the stain would be a reminder of Merritt. Merritt’s disease used to seem horrible, a whopping red wine stain on white cotton pants. Now that I’m used to the spots, they seem irrelevant to the joy she brings.
People do that to us. Stain us. Sometimes we put up protection, a wall of emotional pretreater. Don’t get too close to me, you make me uncomfortable, you’re different. I’ve done it. Shun the people who will stain me. Turn off the unpleasant images. Step away from the needy friend. Tell myself that someone else will help. It wasn’t until I was forced to be stained, that I realized it isn’t so bad. A blemish in our fiber means we’ve taken on someone else’s essence.
Nordstrom sells a Juicy t-shirt that says “Save Fashion, Wear Juicy.” Check out the website, the shirt will run you $72. I don’t think I’ll be saving fashion anytime soon, but I’m definitely “wearing juice.”
Thanks for all your posts….you all inspire me! Kathy
8 Responses to “Stains”
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August 2nd, 2006 at 4:17 pm
What a beautiful analogy! I will never look at a stain the same way again.
August 2nd, 2006 at 9:58 pm
Once I had a prominent stain on a white dress and did everything I could to cover it up, make it disappear but not any longer……..stains are unique, stains tell a story……”let your stains GO”!
August 3rd, 2006 at 11:09 am
My dear Kathy,
Even though my laundry days are past, well I mean since my big laundry days are passed ,I still make stains all on my own. As the saying goes”You are never too old to learn” so I am looking forward to yourwisdom. When I think back on the days when, I wish I could go back again and hear my childrens laughs and even their arguments. I mostly folded laundry on ther kitchen table as so I was right in the thick of things.I will so enjoy your sharing of your life and I am sure that those who are still participating will love to be inspired. peace and light . Joan
August 3rd, 2006 at 12:44 pm
I too have had the dreaded sputter from feeding a little child, the worst is the broclli and tofu baby food - why did my wife make that - I can’t stand it, so obviously the baby isn’t going to like it - no wonder it gets sputtered back. So there I am feeding the baby, making eating faces as I spoon it in, with my shirt off so it won’t get stained. Luckily stains don’t bother me, just part of life - now. Its amazing how as you go through the stages of your life, things that were important before, aren’t now. When I started working out of college, I used to polish my shoes every night after work, now I’m lucky if my shoes get polished once a month, its better to spend the time playing with the kids (or pulling weeds from under the black eyed susans). Make life fun, laugh more, talk more, forget about the stains.
August 3rd, 2006 at 4:42 pm
Dear Kathy,
Stains are the milestones in life. There are good stains,bad stains,
happy stains and sad stains—but All are reminders of the person
(or thing) that caused the problem. I don’t think any of us want to
forget the events that colored our lives. Wal-Mart or designer–it
does not matter. The stains are woven into the tapestries of our
lives that we call memories,price doesn’t count.Love is the thread
binds it all together.Not everyone will end up with a “rainbow”
tapestry that you will have–thanks toMerritt.
August 5th, 2006 at 9:00 pm
Kathy,
This site is delightful…just like you! Can’t wait to see the book published. There is no doubt in my mind that the nuggets of inspiration you will share will touch MANY!
August 8th, 2006 at 4:06 am
Oh my. If the success of a day for me involves learning something I didn’t know, “seeing” a light turn on, remembering a past happiness, or realizing a potential source for celebration today, then this day is most successful because I have been “stained” with the mark of a loving and joyous woman. Thank you.
August 16th, 2006 at 1:22 pm
Dear Kathy,
You are making people think! Wouldn’t this be a great book for a book club!! Or Oprah! If everyone reads it and bubbles up the pleasantries and insights that are appearing on this web paige, think of the happy possibilities.
I’m thinking of a white shirt I wore only a few times before staining it with coffee while driving. I’ve wondered why I haven’t thrown it out and now I know why. It was otherwise a good day. Think I’ll throw a scarf over the stain and wear the rememberance. Thanks!