Maybe it’s time to move backward

To the editor:
    Life is all about going forward. We walk ahead; to reverse, we turn around and walk ahead again. Walking backward is said to be very good exercise, but where? Imagine walking down the street backward. Wear a rearview mirror, I suppose. Freak out the car coming toward you, or the one passing you, for that matter. Cause a mini-collision for the two cars. Which one is at fault? The drivers say in unison, “It was that woman walking backward, Officer!”
    Accumulating things is moving forward, making progress, showing success in life. Take clothes: the more the better, mix and match for versatility; variety for on-the-job, for church, for parties, something very special for a wedding, very different for sports, hiking or camping. Oh, yes, work clothes for outside, gardening or painting perhaps.
    Hard to fit or just fussy? Sew your own. All those fabrics, buy a few extra pieces. Soon, no room in the closets and yard goods fill a chest, then a box in the attic. Under the bed? No, no, no. The air needs to circulate. Check his closet, shove his clothes together and there’s room. Maybe just one drawer in his dresser, too.
    Fast forward: It’s time to clear the clutter. Pile up the flip-flops, shoes and boots, take their picture, ready for the thrift shop. Some clothes refuse to leave. Take the two brown wool suits. Yes, someone, please take them, no, wait! Hung on hangers, picture taken, placed in a box to go, but, no, to the attic ‘til a year later: same routine. Finally, decision made: Cut up the two skirts to make one long one, darker plain fabric on the bottom, lighter tweed on top. Wear either short jacket, now back in style. Cop-out.
    Giving away clothes used to feel good, but now it is often an imposition. Many thrift shops are overwhelmed. Too much. Flea markets around the world have our clothes. In London, with a mountain of it, a man said, “Too much to sell, so we try to give it away.”
    Perhaps backward is the way to go, after all, backward in time to when we treasured the few quality clothes we had. Meanwhile, many, who looked upon thrift shops with disdain, now brag about buying there. Older, better quality, and maybe, just maybe, something made in the U.S.A.
Byrna Weir
Rochester, N.Y.