We’ve been doing some renovation in our house, and although I’m not sure exactly how it relates, my wife got me to clean out my closet area.
Don’t tell her the following:
In the process of going through my clothes, I came across 33 Red Sox t-shirts (in various sizes) and 11 Red Sox caps/hats (including one signed by Roger Clemens when he was a Yunkee). And there are also a number of Sox windbreakers, sweat shirts, and jackets, which I didn’t bother to count (probably less than 10).
My dilemma, if it is one, is should I pare down this ‘collection’?
I am taking seven bags of used clothing to a local center, and if my wife was not away on a trip, she would no doubt insist that I give up some of the Sox paraphernalia too.
My first thought is to make a vow not to buy another Sox shirt, cap, or jacket, unless/until (?), of course, they win another World Series.
Any suggestions on how I should proceed?
Just a few examples…
Lydia said:
My suggestion is (and I apologize in advance for sounding like a lawyer)…it depends. Are these event-specific t-shirts? Caps that could be considered vintage? Does the collection do a lovely job of actually tracking the Red Sox marketing for as long as you’ve been following them?
I would delete duplicative items, but not ones that are actually unique. E.g., if you have a WWJDD? t-shirt, you should keep it. If you have four red Red Sox t’s with nothing really unique about them, you could probably pare down. Is anything falling apart? Get it framed.
I’ve always thought that collections like yours are an outward sign of your passion (perhaps for the team, maybe baseball, or possibly just that sense of calm that radiates from our national sport) — reducing just for the sake of reducing doesn’t make a tremendous amount of sense — unless of course your passion has diminished……unlikely.
This is also coming from someone who is married to a man with two boxes filled with Obama ’08 t-shirts, mugs, posters, christmas ornaments, etc….insert grain of salt here.
Micah Sifry said:
My understanding is that there are several medications that can help with this condition. ;>)
janet brown said:
Such a problem!
Why don’t you see if some of your family nephews cousins etc want to share in you largesse?.
I bet Cory or Leslie Julie Brad Ronald would enjoy that!
Leslie Lieman said:
Do you still wear any of it? If no, out it goes. Loss of material items will never diminish true love.
Chris Boutourline said:
I think you should try and convince Ellen to empty another room and let you install mini bleachers, bases and shirt wearing mannequins (only dare to write this because I’ve never met Ellen and, she’s away). I like the give them to the nephew & nieces idea but that seems like you still end up with 25 T-shirts.
Elllen Miller said:
I am never traveling again. You should handle this they way you made daughters Annie and Elizabeth handle their stuffed animal collection. Nothing new comes in until one goes out. Or line up the items and dump every other one! Or get rid of anything you havent worn in years. I actually use that strategy myself,
Annie said:
We had to get rid of TWO stuffed animals if we brought a new one in the house. Time for a taste of your own medicine – or whatever that saying is. You can have a closet in Bethesda for all the stuff Mom makes you toss…if you want to drive that far!
Richard said:
Lydia – I see that your recent educational experience is beginning to interfere with your usual good sense. Tho by the end of your brief, you seem to regain some common sense.
Micah – Medication is NOT the answer I am looking for.
Janet – You never did understand your brother fully. And I think you are just looking for a way to get clothes to your kids and other relatives. What about my attachment to these pieces of art, history, etc.?
Leslie – I am very disappointed in you on this one. Not wearing something should not have anything to do with whether I maintain these pricey-priceless treasures.
Chris – Ah, at last someone who understands, tho I’m not sure I like you agreeing with my sister (NOgumbo).
Ellen – So who told on me? And don’t say you were reading the blog because you follow MillersTime. Plus, don’t try to pass yourself off as one who is not guilty of hoarding. One more word out of you on this, and I’ll blog about how many pair of black shoes are in your closet.
Annie – “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child.” I do appreciate, however, your offer of storage, assuming that husband of yours won’t charge me for it.
Brian Steinbach said:
Wait a few years more and sell them on ebay? Let it be part of your estate and then they can sell or enjoy them. Or perhaps they can “pair” (your typo) them with their own collections.
Take pictures and have a different one appear on your blog each day/week throughout the year!
Richard said:
Ah Brian, I always thought you had good sense, tho I think some of your suggestion(s) may be too mercenary for me. PS-I fixed the ‘misspelling,’ about a minute before you wrote.
Chris Boutourline said:
Thanks for understanding Richard. I too am an hopelessly afflicted fan at heart so my suggestion was only partly ‘tongue in cheek’. I was concerned somebody might take offense and the only thing that came to my mind in defense of my remark was “My snark is worse than my bite”.
unknown said:
I say this..the stuffed animal system is downright fascist…I will however be forced to apply the same system in my stuffed animal infected home pretty soon…about the sad state of the rest of the sox stuff…i say lets Dye it all that paraphernalia orange and stamp some colorful oriole birds logos on them and give them better use…..call me…
Elliott Trommald said:
Share the wealth –it is an American custom. and I am willing to take a piece of your historic wardrobe. Others i am sure are willing to help you. Under no circumstances should you just let it go — the consequences for 2012 would be catastrophic. and Richard, you know that psychiatric costs are going up. You are too old to suffer the consequences. Cheers always, et
janet brown said:
I was just trying to help you keep it all in the family,although I’m sure Randy needs some new clothes!
Richard said:
Unknown (I know who you are) – Why would any sane person want to turn Sox stuff into Oriole’s stuff? Also, beware, as you can see from Annie’s comment above, that your daughter will hold it against you for at least 30 years if you make her get rid of any of those stuffed animals.
Elliott – Will definitely pass on one of my Sox shirts. And your size is?
Chris – It’s a burden I just guess we’ll have to bear.
Janet – Nice to see you making comments, even if I disagree with some of them.
Clare Bolek said:
One of the best picture I have of you is wearing 2 Red Sox’s hats at the same time. One thing I have learned from my new mommy friends who havea hard time parting with cute and soft baby clothes is by making a quilt with them. You are in retirement and it could be a nice new hobby (Or pay someone to do it:) I would agree with others that you cannot buy more stuff until you part or create something with the old stuff.
Sal Giambanco said:
As a lifelong Yankees fan with Bronx roots, I have a simple suggestion — one large bonfire — let’s get rid of it all!!
Cheers,
Sal
The greatest obstacle to being heroic is the doubt whether one may not be going to prove one’s self a fool; the truest heroism is, to resist the doubt; and the profoundest wisdom, to know when it ought to be resisted, and when to be obeyed.
~ Nathaniel Hawthorne ~
elizabeth said:
I am late to the party on these comments but I find them hilarious. Except the bonfire suggestion. This reminds me however, I haven’t shopped on http://www.yawkeywaystore.com/ in awhile. I wonder if they have anything new….
Fruzsina Harsanyi said:
Once you decide what to throw it, tell me what finally worked so I can use it on Ray. And by the way, one never has enough pairs of black shoes. Fruzsi