Not Just Another Monday

In yet another effort to reveal more of the wood floor in the living room, I spent the better part of last evening opening boxes and discovering their contents.Old birthday cards, plans for the first vegetable garden in NJ from 1982 and some pictures of the finished product and the fruits of our labor. Many ancient tee-shirts from various events going back to the mid-70s, many from NY Pride parades when I used to volunteer as a marshall to keep the folks moving and away from anti-gay hate-mongering a**holes on the side lines. Sadly, some things never change.

All kind of depressing really, as most of those years were spent with the now Ex (any photos of him or us went immediately into the trash) as we spent 18 years on that hillside in the woods in what I thought was bliss.  As it turns out, it was anything but.

Then, this morning I opened another large box and was cheered up at once.  This one contained old clothes - shirts, slacks, jeans, shorts and more tee-shirts - only these were from when I was a lot heavier.  All shirts were extra large, slacks and shorts were size 36 and 38 waist. A few items were brand new, original tags still attached.  Don't know how these items got packed, I don't even remember many of them. 

As I sip my iced coffee I look at these clothes like they are from the life of someone else, someone who passed away and left them to me. For some reason, I can't stop smiling as I think of how I've changed from that "husky" (as they used to say) guy into the me of today.  A 34 waist, medium shirts, and large tee-shirts (I like them loose and comfy) suits me just fine and I've maintained these sizes for almost 5 years now.

This is just one more box for the thrift store as it joins 2 others already in the car awaiting my Wednesday errands. With every box emptied I feel as though a layer of skin is being shed and, somehow, I feel I can breathe easier.  Strange feeling, that.

To be honest, I don't miss the house on the hill, or the garden, (though I do miss the fresh produce), or the lawn mowing, or the weeding, or any of that home-owner bliss. That was then, this is now.  I am exactly where I ought to be at this moment.

Of course, a little more furniture (and some extra money) would be nice.

If the forecasters are correct (for once!) and we get heavy rains today it will be a great day at the restaurant. When it rains people tend to do other things - shop the Outlet Stores, go to the movies, and eat out. We'll be waiting for them...

And so it goes.
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