Pertler, Alice
I recently purchased a new pair of shoes. Heck, I adore clothing.
a bit.
But I put all of that on hold for decades ( for decades, people ).
Due to the boys, I was. It’s always the kids ‘ fault, is n’t it? They often take the brunt of our frustration. For them, we make sacrifices. I’m happy.
Since that is what you do, As a family, that’s what you want to do. You could n’t get it any other way.
For Nike golf boots, I made a sacrifice. Depending on the children and the century, I gave up for National Eagle, Abercrombe, and Lulu Lemon.
I also made a sacrifice for my father’s clothes. He required suits and ties, which are not inexpensive.
It was exactly what it was. I would n’t trade it for anything.
But suffice it to say that because my family was my pride and joy ( and we all had a disdain for ironing ), my kids had tennis shoes with the appropriate logo, and my husband had iron-free shirts.
Even though I still did n’t give a damn where my clothes came from, I continued to take care of mine, albeit minimalistically, while making sure my husband and kids were dressed appropriately. I did n’t give a damn about my possessions or how much I had.
Only the fundamentals, if you will.
Mind you, I always lacked something. I could have purchased pricey boots or clothes, and my father would have praised me. It was entirely up to me.
I suppose I simply felt that the people I cared about and around me needed clothes and brand-name boots more than I did. And since I had mostly created these people with wants, I felt it was my responsibility to make sure they had enough—or perhaps a little bit more than enough.
And that holds true for both clothing and enjoy.
But now it’s my turn, ( drum roll ).
The children need a new set of golf shoes every September because they have grown up with foot that are no longer growing. I gave many of my husband’s suits, shirts, and shoes to charities even though he is practically dead. He never more exposes his clothing. Heck, he does n’t wear them anymore.
That leaves me alone.
My god, I’ve been enjoying myself a lot with this.
Although I still do n’t wear many name brands, I have created my own look. It’s bright, distinctive, and enjoyable. And I’m enjoying myself immensely with it.
I believe that a lot of us, both men and women, experience this. For many years, we put our own demands on hold because there are others—often poor and vulnerable people who call us mom and dad—who depend on us to meet their needs in a proper and healthy way.
So we do n’t get any rest. We do n’t have a new car or new clothes. We make do with what we have in order for our children to have what they need, maybe even more than they require because it is our responsibility as people, parents, and compassionate people.
And that comes to an end because children do grow up, do n’t they? The me centuries are what come next.
Thank you; I’m on the edge of them and they feel really good. I continue to take care of my children and grandchildren, but now that I have more time to reflect on what I might want to accomplish or knowledge, it feels fine after giving for so much.
Perhaps even preferable to cool.
Every morning, I am grateful for better than average. It is really worthwhile my gratitude to be here and in this location.
That and a new pair of shoes, I suppose.
Pertler, Alice is an award-winning syndicated columnist, published playwright and author. Don’t miss a slice; follow the Slices of Life page on Facebook.