Handbags and Gladrags

Imelda Markos eat your heart out.  The widow of the former

Filipino President Ferninand was renowned for her vast collection of shoes.  My sister inlaw Karen and I have just spent Sunday afternoon emptying Caroline’s clothes and shoes from the wardrobe.  I never quite knew how many pairs of shoes Caroline actually had but now I do.  Wow!  Why does a woman need so many pairs of shoes?  Shoes for almost every possible occasion at least four times over!

 

Yet another testing step along the journey to a place I don’t know where.  I finally started the exercise of downsizing so that I can make the next moves.  Karen and I decided that it would not be right to just put Caroline’s belongings into black bin bags so we used suit cases, storage containers for accessories and shopping bags which seemed quite appropriate as Caroline was a complete shopaholic – although she would deny it!

There is still a number of lovely dresses, really stylish shoes and jewellery remaining.  I have asked Caroline’s friends if they would like to look at these and keep something as a keepsake of her memory. 

There are three dresses that I will keep as they marked some special occasion.  The dress Caroline wore on my 40^th birthday which coincided with Neil and Lucy’s wedding in the Grand Canyon; the dress Caroline wore to Emma Lou’s wedding in Mexico when we thought she was recovering from cancer and a red dress because she looked gorgeous in it.  Everything else will be shipped to St Peter’s Hospice to support this wonderful charity.

Actually packing the clothes was not as daunting as I had imagined.  In fact the exercise brought back some good memories.  It was a bit different when I had to put the clothes into the car.  I know it had to be done but it still a time when a very deep breath is required.  It is so final.   The lady at the hospice shop couldn’t believe her eyes when I gave her these possessions and there is plenty more to come. 

So we're all still getting on with our lives.  The kids have settled very well at Uni.  They were both home this weekend which was nice although I soon remembered how much mess the two of them can make!!!  Anyway we stay strong as a family!!