Selfishly Single

Confession.  If my house were on fire right now and I only had time to grab three things...I WOULD BE SCREWED.  I'm not worried about televisions and social security cards.  But there are a few things that are near and dear to my heart that I know that I would sit and cry over.  The biggest of those things...MY WARDROBE.

It has taken me years to build my wardrobe.  Hours upon hours of digging around in thrift stores throughout the DC metro area.  Countless three-way mirrors in Ross, Marshall's and TJ Maxx hoping that the pair of jeans that I was sliding on would actually slide above my hips and thighs.  Let's not forget the feeling of total euphoria when you realize that a pair of jeans not only fit like a magic pill, but that they are also affordable and come in several different colors!!! #SCORE!!!!!

Real talk...If I had to decide between my car catching on fire and between the bulk of my wardrobe going up in flames, then I can picture me waving goodbye to that dern Buick.  My wardrobe is an eclectic mix of stuff that can likely NEVER be replaced.  My attachment to clothes is stemmed from the fact that growing up, we didn't have a lot of money.  I would have to borrow clothes from my older sister in order to appear remotely stylish and/or like I had more than 4 outfits.  In retrospect, I feel sorry for my sis.  The extra wear and tear on her clothes wasn't fair or fun for her.  I'll have to apologize to her for that one.

I can distinctly remember the day that I was in Norfolk, VA away from home at a camp for student leaders.  My teacher failed to mention to me that I needed to bring certain articles of clothing for special events that would be happening during the program.  I was able to slip by majority of the week, but on the night of a big banquet, I had no dress and no dress shoes.  This began an all out campaign with myself and a few other girls to find some clothes for me to wear.  Up and down the hallways we searched until we found a girl who was about sizes smaller than me (I have always been a lil thickums, so the idea of even attempting to squeeze into her clothes was both daunting and embarrassing) who had an extra dress and sandals.  The sandals were an entire size too small too.  So there I stood in all my glory in 100 degree weather, walking across a long hot parking lot in a dress that I didn't fit and in shoes that hurt so bad that I had to take them off.

While I was ever grateful to the young lady who helped me, in that moment I made a vow that I would always have enough clothes when I was away from home and that I would always have wardrobe options.  Not to mention that when I returned I had severe first degree burns on the bottoms of my feet from walking across that hot parking lot and was unable to walk properly for 4 days.  NEVER AGAIN I VOWED.  NEVER AGAIN.

While I know that young life memories shouldn't cause adult setbacks, they do.  So I'm stuck with a burning house, no car and a handful of Levi's and thrifted sweaters.  :/  When I think of it that way...maybe I need counseling?