There’s a Hole in My Shirt

And for some reason, I care

Sherry McGuinn asked a question: “What’s the hole in your pants?” In her article she explains how she found a hole in her pants and how she felt about it. And how she feels about how she felt about it. And though I wasn’t asked directly, that’s never once stopped me from answering. So below is my response.

There’s a Hole in My Shirt

I have never been one to care about such things as holes in my clothes, within reason. They’re clean, I’m clean; I’m covered, what’s a little hole in the elbow if nobody sees it and I love the shirt?

Then, the other day, I found myself going through my clothes. I bought all new socks and threw the old ones away, and did the same with other undergarments. And pants, and shirts; I was on a purging mission. I even separated winter from summer clothes and put the winter ones away, out of the dresser so I wouldn’t have to fight for room or dig through stuff to find clothes to wear. (Mind you, here in Central Texas we get maybe one collective month of winter per year, but I do have some clothes specifically for such times.)

I think that it’s like everybody else, but backwards. I’ve never been one to hang around the house, but the pandemic is kind of encouraging me to do so. I still have to work my regular schedule in the regular office, but from there I come home. We’re eating at home almost exclusively. I’m paying attention to my surrounding and tidying up. I’m spending quality time on my rocking chair with my cat on my lap, and she’s completely down with the change.

My partner walked into the kitchen while I was doing dishes and he demanded “Who are you, and what have you done with Earnie?!” Clearing off the tables, sweeping, washing laundry AND folding it, and putting it away… he just didn’t know what to make of me.

I’m not hoping for anything bad for our world; Lord knows we need some good news. But, if this pandemic last just a tiny bit longer (and it looks like it’s going to be around for quite a while) I’ll have established some new habits that I am quite pleased with. I know that other people are going stir crazy having to stay at home, but it’s quite a new experience for me. (It helps that I’m still out of the house and around other people daily. I’d probably knock the walls down if I had to be home 100% of the time.)

So, I’m throwing out my hole-ridden clothes and arranging my life. Who would have thought?