JP’s Socks

Originally uploaded by laundrylessons.

When one sock has a hole, do you throw it out, knowing that the other sock still has life? How big must the hole get before the sock is completely unacceptable footwear? I face this decision several times a week. Today, JP chose non-matching socks from the laundry room, one had a hole, and one didn’t. I’ve checked the bottom of JP’s and Graham’s feet. The texture is not like sandpaper, there are no odd calluses that could rub the holes from the inside. But they wear socks like shoes, running inside, sliding, skidding and jumping their way to holes. The pair in the picture obviously went to camp too, note the initials in permanent marker. So, when I’m left with one good sock and one bad, what do I do with the good sock?

This question plagues me. I have a hard time throwing out something that is still good. Last night we had soup. There was one serving left. I know it will never be eaten, but I put it in the fridge anyway. Will JP come home from school and say, “I think I’d like a nice bowl of that split pea soup for a snack.” It won’t happen, he’ll eat strawberries and pretzels. My ski coat has a broken zipper, but it is the best winter coat. It only cost about thirty bucks at TJ Maxx so I don’t want to pay thirty bucks to fix the zipper. Should I pitch it?

De-cluttering is tough. Television shows teaching us how to throw out stuff fill the TLC and Lifetime lineup. I don’t have a lot of knick-knack stuff. This isn’t my clutter. My collections have to do with future events and projects. JP had to make a mask for a Marti Gras project last week. With the orange poster board and thin dowel rods on hand, a mask was constructed in record time with no last minute runs to the craft store. Party stuff also collects in my storage areas - dessert plates to serve 45, tablecloths to cover ten picnic tables, and an assortment of beverage napkins to rival the selection at the party store. If I didn’t keep all this stuff around, I might not be able to have the neighbors over for a last minute get-together.

But I do make an attempt to throw out what I’m not going to use in the foreseeable future. Last week I pitched a bagel cutter (my serrated knife works fine), ten kids books, and an old rug. Choosing what to pitch is easy if I don’t see a need for it, but what about stuff like JP’s good sock, or even people in my life? Sometimes I need to disconnect from perfectly good socks, people or high-waisted jeans, to have order, grow or look better.

So, I’m asking myself, “Will I ever use it?” and, “Do I really love it?” about a lot of things in my life. As I put away the boys’ clothes today, I did throw out a lot of single socks, even without holes. They’d been filling up their drawers, but not serving any purpose. I hope I’m doing more than those socks.