Now I know why…
by adustyframe ~ April 13th, 2009Several years ago, a woman in our church died after a lengthy illness. A few months later her husband asked me where would be the best place to donate her wedding dress.
I gave him a few suggestions but I wondered why in the world would he want to get rid of her wedding dress!
I’m a very sentimental person and while I don’t keep everything, I do keep the “big stuff”. I wondered if his children would have wanted it at some point in the future–even if it was just to have a memory of their mom.
Last week, I was organizing my closet and in the back corner I saw Lee’s formal wool coat.
Immediately I touched it and ran my hand up and down the sleeve. I remembered how handsome he looked in that coat and how strong his arm was when he helped me on the ice.
I could almost smell his cologne. I remembered walking down the street with him and his arm around me. The strong fabric rubbed across my neck–strong and manly just like Lee.
I thought about the photo I have of him standing in the kitchen in that coat smiling at me.
Then I understood why the man from church would want to get rid of the wedding dress. I understood why people throw things away.
The memories flooded my mind while I looked at his coat. They were sweet but they still hurt.
I won’t throw his coat away but now I understand.
April 14th, 2009 at 7:55 am
((hugs))
Thanks!
April 14th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
I bought my wedding dress two years before our wedding. I gained a lot of weight in that time, and squeezed into the dress on my wedding day. The armholes were too tight, and it was uncomfortable. The hot July heat took its toll – the dress afterward had that distinct odor from a nervous girl on a hot day, and I knew it needed to be cleaned. The best price I found was $170, money I really didn’t have at the time.
I had no extra room in our one-bedroom apartment. I made a decision, and donated the wedding dress to a charity group. People were horrified that I would give my wedding dress away, but I knew I’d never fit into it again and I just didn’t see the point in hanging on to something I didn’t have room for anyways. I hope I don’t regret it.
My mom held on to her wedding dress. She had it specially cleaned and packaged, to preserve it. I always intended to wear it, but when the time came and I tried it on, it didn’t fit. I was relieved – the style was very 70s, long sleeved (too hot for my July wedding), and I really didn’t care for the dress. I’m glad I got my own. My mom regrets keeping hers; that probably influenced my decision about my own wedding dress.
Oh I know;). Mine is in the box and I’ve never removed it after cleaning it.