the sweater and other clothing tales

You are wearing a red sweater over your shirt today.  Its a very plain burgandy red sweater, I would say it is unisex in appearance.

"She brought me this sweater and told me to put it on today", you tell me.  "it was a little coolish in the room this morning".

"That's a nice sweater", I say.  "you have lots of nice clothes, if you would just wear them."

(remember, this is an old retired clothing merchant we are talking to.  There was a time when the dinner table conversation was about bras and suits and who is a size 16 and who is a size 12.  Sadly, it is rare today to see you take any interest in clothing on yourself, or anyone else).

You smirk, "do you know what this sweater is?"

"No", I say.

"I got this sweater at the store down there" (you point out the window).

Ah yes, we went through a phase, soon after you move to the condo, where you regularly went shopping at the Goodwill shop down the street.  You especially liked Senior's day, which I believe was Wednesdays, when there was small extra discount for seniors.

"It was so cheap, I had to buy it.  But, I looked at the label, and did you know? Its a women's sweater".

"Oh so its a woman's sweater but you decided to wear it anyway?".

"yes" (and you are amused by this)


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"That's' a nice coat you are wearing, really cute", you notice.

I am wearing a new Betsy Johnson walking coat - in navy blue with blossom shaped rose gold buttons and beautiful pink and blue lining.

This observation and comment is noteworthy because of where we have been, and because of the significant improvement toward your old person that the statement represents.

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"We ran into to the lady down the hall today", you tell me.  "She is a former stewardess you know and she has quite a wardrobe. She was wearing an A line dress"

An A line dress.  Yes, that is the old merchant talking again.

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All attributed to improvements in your mental state, attributed to "our girl", your new PCA
http://seniorfraud.blogspot.com/2015/02/our-girl.html

The Suit

Today you put on your good pants, a sport jacket and a tie, appearing fully dressed at 3:45 AM after only 5 hours of sleep.
Last night on your own you took a shower, an amazing feat for someone usually averse to any and all personal hygiene.  In fact, just getting you to change socks, or into a different shirt has been a struggle for months.
Is it because of the Christmas party announcement, for the party you missed yesterday?
Or did you think you are going someplace else today?
Where are you hoping to go today?

It stirs in me both a deep sadness and a deep hope, to watch you wait, and to dress up for the party........waiting.

what are we all really waiting for anyway?  what are you waiting for?
More and more I believe you are waiting to leave this earth - to be again with those you have loved the most, not with me here and now.

"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, and redemption of our bodies.". Romans 8: 22-23.

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I think one of those talking clocks, like they make for the blind, with announcements of the time every hour, might be a good thing for you.  Why didn't I think of this before?

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you wait all day, expecting something, looking so nice and clean in your good pants, nice shirt, and tie. What is it you were expecting today? Was it the party you missed yesterday? Was it a dream with expectations, hopes to meet a long lost friend, or perhaps to again see your wife?  12+ hours later, at 4:40 PM, you get up, and leave the room, re-emerging after 5 PM, wearing jeans.

I call en route.  "How was your day today?" I ask.
"Fine.  I am wearing jeans again." you tell me, without any further explanation.
When I arrive I find you in jeans.  
You never let on that you were dressed up all day today, seemingly waiting for something important. 
You never tell me what you were waiting for.

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"Do you ever get bored? ", I ask.

There is a long pause.  

"No", you answer. 

2 pair of jeans

"I put on 2 pair of jeans this morning", you say, "and its getting hot".  "I needed to take off one of these pairs of jeans, its getting too hot".

I see you sitting on the chair, wearing a pair of jeans, the 2nd pair nearby on the bed, presumably just removed.

"Why did I do that?", you said.  "That was kind of a crazy thing to do"

Pull your pants up

The pants are falling lower and lower on the torso, revealing the crack between the buttocks.

Pull your pants up!
Where is your belt?


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it feels funny to have on pants that are in the right location (this is after we got the belt on)







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It is rare for me to go out of the house without a belt on