Day 14,713: The Gray Sweater

I'm very carefully attempting to mend my favorite sweater. It's so old I cannot remember when I purchased it. It's nothing special, just a thin gray v-neck made out of The Warmest Wool. Heat without bulk. I think I bought it from the men's department of Old Navy on sale for about $8.00. There is no sentimental event tied to it, it just is what it is. A comfy warm sweater, without bulk, that is the right shade of gray to be flattering against my skin.

It was just this past fall when I looked in the mirror and realized I just couldn't wear it to work anymore. It is slowly turning into a threadbare mess. The kind of sweater that if I had a wife, I would constantly be fishing it from the garbage can where she would throw it in secret disgust when I'm out running errands. The kind of sweater she would see me in while watching TV and start to complain about how I'm wearing That Sweater again. Enough to make me slowly eek the volume up to drown out her commentary. The kind of sweater that would mean I would get wool gray v-neck sweaters from her for 8 Xmases in a row, in hopes I would finally let this one go. The kind of sweater that breeds contemptuous looks and tests of will.

I do realize this. But I love my old sweater. And so I sit, with thread chosen particularly for this occasion, carefully mending the holes. Quietly. Meticulously. As if I were restoring a painting from a great Renaissance painter. When I'm done I'll slip it over my head, gently put my arms through the newly mended sleeves and try to convince myself that it doesn't look too bad. Then move on to the next item that needs mending...