7 pairs of slacks and 3 handbags

It was almost a year ago that my mother died, and after her death I rescued some of her clothes.

 My kid sister was in charge of clearing out the house, and I knew at the time that she was planning to have a sale of some sort, but she was overwhelmed. I filled a box with some of Mom's clothes, as well as some of my cast-off handbags that she'd liked. I thought removing a box of her stuff would help my sister feel as though some progress had been made in clearing my mom's home (yeah, that would still take months and months) and I'd planned on taking her clothes to the resale shop in her neighborhood (which suffered a devastating electrical fire and never reopened).

So that box of her clothes has been sitting in my den for nearly a year. Until today. When I packed it up and took it to Goodwill.

I estimate that the fair market value of these items is $42.75, so each of my sisters and I can declare $14.25 on our 2013 income taxes.

Some of the slacks still smelled like my mom's bedroom. I recognized the scent immediately. I remember how it felt for my mom to hug me.

But I didn't cry. I haven't cried. I'm not sad.

I am ready for this part of our relationship -- hers and mine -- to be over. The reverse mortgage company will go to court in early September, just after Labor Day, to take a major step toward taking legal possession of her home. Soon I'm going to close the books on the finances and cut my heinous older sister a check for about $700. And then it will be done.

I want to remember her as my mother. Not as a financial responsibility or a legal matter.

So today felt like a move toward healing.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Easy Lover

1) This song is about a heartbreaker who just can't commit. Have you ever fallen for an "easy lover?" Yes. He broke quite a few hearts before he knew me and went on to break a few more after we broke up.

 

2) This song is one of Crazy Sam's "earwigs." Each time she hears it, it bores in and stays in her head forever! (Hear it here, if you dare!) Do you have a song like that? "Home" by Phillip Phillips. American Family Insurance uses a little snippet of it on their commercials, and once I hear it ("I'm gonna make this place your home ..."), the song keeps running through my mind for hours.

 

3) Both Phil Collins and Philip Bailey* have stars on The

Hollywood Walk of Fame. Have you ever visited Hollywood? Yes, at least twice. I've acted like a total tourist each time, strolling with my head down, checking out the stars. "Look! It's Robert Vaughn! I loved him on The Man from U.N.C.L.E."

 
4) Hollywood is the movie capital of the world. What's the last movie you saw in the theater? It was a little indie movie starring Steve Carrell called The Way, Way Back. Completely charming. If it ever comes to a theater near you, see it.

 
5) Phil Collins was a child actor in his native England,

appearing onstage in musicals like Oliver! Can you think of another child performer who went on to entertainment industry success as an adult? Former Mouseketeer Ryan Gosling springs to mind. I think he's grown up exceptionally well, don't you?

 
  6) Philip Bailey joined Earth, Wind & Fire while still in college, so he's been a performer throughout his working life, as well. Have you ever been tempted to try your hand at show biz? No. I hate my voice.

 

7) Is there a profession that you never, under any circumstances, want to try? Food service. I think I would have a hard time being as polite and patient as a good waiter has to be.

 
8) What are you looking forward to right now? Eggs for breakfast! I have a massive craving for eggs right now.

 

9) Do you suffer from trypanophobia (fear of needles/injections)? Or can you bravely donate blood or get a shot, without freaking out? No. And this reminds me I really should donate again. I am a rather rare type (AB+) so Lifesource needs me, and I keep ducking their calls.

 

*Well, Earth Wind & Fire has a star.