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Depending on wearer, sweater fits occasion
(by Christine Thome - December 02, 2011)
BEYOND MY CONTROL, BY CHRISTINE THOME
Depending on wearer, sweater fits occasion
Figuring out how to prepare for the changes that will occur when your college-age child returns home for the holidays is an open-and-shut case.
Your wallet, refrigerator, heart and clothes closet must remain open while your mouth should always remain shut.
I am used to the extra trips to the ATM, wondering how she acquired an expensive taste for flavored coffee creamers and thinking dementia is setting in when I can't find the shoes and belt I know were in my closet the day before my daughter returned to college. I wasn't ready for the criticism.
"Mom, I have an ugly Christmas sweater party to go to when I get back," she started to say.
"Oh! I remember those parties!" I interrupted her recalling my days at the same college many years ago. "We used to go uptown first and then ..."
"I know, Mom, you've told me these stories a thousand times," she said.
I don't think I've told her my college stories a thousand times. Maybe just 10 times. Or maybe I did and dementia really is beginning to set in.
"I need a sweater for the party. Can I borrow your sequined Christmas vest?" she asked.
"But I thought you needed an ugly Christmas sweater. My vest isn't ugly. I love that vest," I stated with just a little indignation.
"Well, it's not ugly, but it is, um, what's the word I'm looking for, um, it's bright, it's shiny, it's, um ..."
"It's tacky. Is that what you're trying to say? My favorite Christmas top that my mother gave to me many years ago and I wear several times each season is tacky?" I said with my hands on my hips.
"Not at all! That sweater is totally you!" she tried to dig her way out. "You know what? I'll figure out something," she said before she could fit her entire foot into her mouth.
I have to admit, she wasn't completely wrong that some of my holiday outfits may be tacky or even ugly. I love the holidays -- all of them. When my kids were very young, I had more fun decorating myself than the house. I had tops and jackets with sequined stars and stripes for Memorial Day and Fourth of July. My daughter and I had matching Halloween sweaters to wear to her preschool parties and I had all kinds of Christmas tree earrings, necklaces and Rudolph the Reindeer pins that lit up and played "Jingle Bells."
I've toned it down. The holiday fashion items in my closet are sequined jack-o'-lantern earrings for Halloween and a sequined Christmas vest.
I miss her so much when she is gone, I wasn't going to let a silly little argument over my gorgeous, refined, sequined Christmas vest get in our way.
The day she was packing, I found a shopping bag in the mud room.
"Oh, thanks, Mom! I almost forgot that," she said as she saw the bag.
I opened it to see inside. It was a beautiful turtleneck sweater.
"This is really pretty, honey. The color will look beautiful on you. Bring it home during your Christmas break so I can borrow it," I said.
"That thing? That's the sweater I got to wear to the ug ..." She stopped herself before she could finish the words, "ugly Christmas sweater party."
"I'll be sure to bring it home with me. I'd love to share it with you,"
That's it. I'm wearing black all season. Maybe a blinking Rudolph pin.
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