Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Thursday, May 24, 2012

Things Aren't Always as They Appinkle


  1. Picture him in 'pinkle'
    Families with children are inevitably the recipients of bags of kindly donated clothing.
  2. Families with lots of children receive lots and lots of clothing. And
  3. Not everything is as it appears.
These statements go together.
Maybe I should explain . . .
We had six children.
Still do, but that is another story.
Moving on . . .
For this reason, everyone who knew us, and even those who only knew OF us, brought us enormous donations of clothing.
They figured we needed it.
They were right.
Every time another large carton of clothing was dropped off, my children went through it.
Laughing and chattering excitedly.
It was like Christmas morning.
Some items were chosen as keepers.
Others were packed back into the box for donation elsewhere.
In one large box, there was a pinkle jogging suit.
You heard me right.
Pinkle.
Not quite pink/not quite purple.
A little 'hoodie' jacket and pants.
My son, Erik grabbed it.
He liked the bright colour.
For many months, it became his outfit of choice.
The first chosen when his clean clothes were stacked in his dresser.
The one that had to be sneaked out of his room for cleaning.
He was warm.
He was distinctive.
He was . . . let's put it this way – he was the brightest coloured boy in the whole second grade.
He loved that suit.
Occasionally, it would need repair.
Dutifully, I sewed up ripped seams or fashioned knee and elbow patches.
Then folded it and put it back into his dresser.
Where he would snatch it up eagerly.
This went on for several months.
Finally, my growing boy . . . outgrew it.
Something even I could do nothing to help.
The pinkle suit was sent to live out its last days in the rag bag.
Move forward several years.
Erik, now a married father of three was talking about that suit.
That horrible pink suit that I made him wear.
Day after day.
Week after week.
Month after . . . well, you get the picture.
Made him wear???!
“I thought you liked it!” I said.
“I hated it! I was trying to wear it out!”
Oh.
See?
Things aren't always as they appear.



17 comments:

  1. Geeze, they have reconstructive memories, don't they.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ohhh! I like that . . . Reconstructive memories. Can I use that???!

      Delete
  2. Yes...I get that as well. Why the heck can't kids just tell you what they think instead of playing along with what they think you think they think if you know what I'm thinking.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I remember Mom buying me a couple of pairs of demin(?) jeans. They were the worst fitting, hottest, ugliest jeans she could find. Like, they looked like riding breeches up top and skin tight at the ankles. But they were probably 2 for a buck so in her eyes they were great. I dutifully wore them, through 7th grade and into the 8th. I wore them everywhere, to wear them out but they wouldn't; I've never seen something last like those did. I finally outgrew them and when it was time for a new pair, I bought my own Levis with my own 4-H money...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep. The ugly ones NEVER wear out!. Ah. Mom's bargains. I think we both need to address that one in a blog post. Did I ever tell you about the clothes she bought as a gift. Then asked me to pay for? Funny story really . . .

      Delete
  4. Haha, oh Diane, that is so funny... :) By the way, thank you so much for the prayers, I will be back to blogging Saturday, I have a huge CPA mid term and things have got a little better.... I stopped for a little because I was sad and I didn't want to be a downer... I am getting centered again. My Heavenly Father loves me as he loves all of us... I just needed to remember that. Thank you for your sweet comment on my blog... grand kids really do give the best prayers :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We blog friends need each other! Happy to know that the pain will soon be a memory. Good luck on your exam! Break a leg! (Oh . . . wait . . . that's for theatre. Can you tell where my experience lies?) I mean . . . knock 'em out of the park! Or something like that. Thinking of you still!

      Delete
  5. lol

    My son would never wear something he didn't like lol
    You had a good son lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Looking back, I realize that. I didn't know it then. I just thought he liked them . . . ^^

      Delete
  6. Hi Diane,
    I really enjoyed this post and couldn't help smiling as I wondered what my sons would say about there clothes when they grow up.
    I found you on the No Ordinary BlogHop crew page and simply liked your blog.
    I now follow!
    God's grace!

    http://www.ugochi-jolomi.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Ugochi! I'm finding out now what my kids thought of the clothes I put them in. It's a voyage of discovery . . . Remind me to tell you about the little sailor dress I put my daughter in . . . And I thought they looked so cute!!!
      Welcome to the neighbourhood!!!

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. Thank you Ginger! It just proves that appearances can be misleading!!!

      Delete
  8. And here I thought Erik loved the pinkle suit! Kudos to him for wearing pinkle, no matter what his reasons. hee hee! I would totally be into pinkle. Darn it! Now I can't stop saying pinkle, Diane! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Secretly, I still think he did . . . little monkey! It's just now, that he is this older, manly man that he can't admit it. :)

      Delete
    2. and I like that word, too. Pinkle. It's just so . . . expressive!

      Delete

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