Break is all but over! School begins on Wednesday, so I am trying to tie up loose ends. Today, I ordered the last of my books, and 2 pairs of shoes. I love me some shoes.

Then I took 15 years off my 45 with the help of Miss Clairol. I said when my face matched my hair, I’d quit dyeing it, and my face still has not gotten as wrinkled as my hair is grey. Thank God, and who ever else is listening.

After I sorted through the clothes yesterday, I got a little overwhelmed by the amount of stuff I have. Not just with clothes. See, I also finished the first pass through the cubbies yesterday. (Yes, I was a busy girl.) I have too much of everything. There is not enough room in my room to put it all away. (Yes, I know I ordered shoes this morning. I do have empty space in my shoe racks!)

I am a hoarder. Clothes, books, notebooks, scrapbooks supplies, yarn, beads, eyeshadows, lipsticks, all of it, and all too much. Freud would have a field day. I’m not Freud. And I am learning to accept that there is enough. Of everything. Enough money, enough love, enough time, enough STUFF. And I don’t have to, cannot afford to, keep all of it in my house at all times.

I have given myself a year to flip this room. By January 6 of next year, it needs to function smoothly, as I intend it to function. Nothing stored on the floor. A cubby full (and no more) of supplies for each of my hobbies. The chair and the bench need to be open and available for seating.

So, the Great Wear It Experiment is starting over. I laid out my sweaters this afternoon. These are the long-sleeved ones with closed fronts and no buttons and that don’t need an undershirt for modesty’s sake (ok, two of them do, but it’s because they are thin, not because they are open-weave). No cardis, no jackets, just regular winter sweaters. There were 33 of them. Thirty-three is an amazing number of sweaters, even for a knitter, and I have only made two of these. And this is what it looks like. An entire double bed full.

I weeded out three without trying any of them on. One was too big. One had a hole that I have elected not to repair, because, really, 33? The last one was difficult. I’ve had it for 20 years. It was a gift from my cousin when I was pregnant with my second. But it has some staining now, and really? 33? If I don’t do something, I will be needing premier mounts on my walls to hold more shelving, just for my clothes.

So, down to 30, which I will be wearing one by one while it is still cold enough to do so. I’ll be looking at color, comfort, fit and all that stuff. I’ve also pulled all my scarves out. 16. Geez. All my winter bottoms are out, too, but I am not counting them. Yet. Also shoes.

But on January 6th of next year, if I have not found a way to wear everything I own….it’s gone.