Tuesday, April 05, 2016

Farewell, friend

I bought these soccer shorts at a Big 5 Sporting Goods in Colorado Springs in late 2001 or early 2002, along with an identical lighter blue pair. They both served well, and now as I'm packing up for another move (this time just across town) I'm purging clothes.



As you can see, I've mended nearly every seam on the garment, by hand. I use what is essentially a double threaded, somewhat excessive overcast stitch that I sometimes refer to as the "hippie stitch". It holds!

These shorts have played soccer, coached youth soccer, run half marathons, and served as sleeping shorts for over a decade.

They've lived in three countries, and ten US states (and visited most or all of the others). For the last couple years, they've mostly been in semi-retirement status, out to pasture except when I can't find their replacements, or am going somewhere where destroying or losing my clothing is a reasonable possibility. Now the elastic is completely shot, I have backups, and, well, it's just time.

Travel well and dream big, friend. Go hang out with all of the other well loved shorts in the sky. If you see my dad's famous orange shorts, say hello for me! (And please tell them I'm sorry about that April Fool's incident. And that mom was in on it.)

p.s. the quilt in the background also dates to 2002, made for me by my lovely friends B and R. It's in much better shape! 

No comments: