Sew Silly!

I knew he was upset. It was his favorite yellow shirt and the second button from the top was, literally, hanging by a thread. I shrugged my shoulders, in a 'what can you do?' kind of way, and continued walking out of the room. I stopped when I heard him call my name. I returned to where he was standing; a lone button, now in the palm of his hand. "Where do you keep your sewing basket?," he asked in a somber way. Tilting my head to the right, I looked at him trying to decipher what exactly he may have meant by that question. Getting no reaction other than hearing him repeat the question, I had no other option but to ask..   

"My whaaaaaat?"  Stressing the sound of the letter 'a' always, accentuates one's disbelief at hearing something totally absurd. I squinted my eyes slightly, and furrowed my brow. Waiting for him to explain did not take too long.     

"Fine. Where do you keep your needle and thread?"  I understand that some of you may not see any humor in this. I, also, DO understand that some of you DO have a sewing box, and needles and an assortment of threads, too. For some, it may be a great hobby (making patterns and sewing your own clothing) ..I, however, traded in my sewing box, some twenty-five years ago, when I returned to work, outside the home.  At that time, my beliefs changed, as well. If anything needed to be sewn, well, perhaps it was time to dispose of it. I don't recall what my husband did about loose buttons..maybe his mother sewed them securely, for him. Things that happened more than 25 years ago remain (conveniently) a blur for me.     

In my humble opinion, if the item required 'needle and thread', it could only have meant one thing: you've had it too long! Socks with holes found their way into the garbage, joining the single socks, and the ever famous "even Clorox can't make these socks white again!" socks. It's true; never darned holey socks.   

Buttons, for some strange reason, don't fall off anymore, hmmm..must be the adhesive thread that they now use! Which brings me, back to my story and to my own posed question, "Why would I have a sewing box, dear, if I don't sew?"  He did not appreciate my response, but it was the truth. Hey, I'm not proud of revealing that fact. It's just..'it is what it is'. He did not wear the yellow shirt that day; it was re-hung in the closet.    

While shopping at Stop 'N Shop, several days later, in the aisle where little gadgets are shelved, I spotted it; a small Singer Sewing Kit! I took it into my hands and knew that I had to buy it, which I did. I wrapped it in fine paper when I got home, and attached a card that said something like: "The perfect gift for the man that has everything!"

He was delighted with my surprise! The sewing box now sits in the kitchen cabinet waiting to be opened. The needle and thread long to be used. The tiny little scissors anticipate their first 'snip'. The pretty plastic thimble wants to be worn.  I believe that we have a real treasure in our hands, and as long as it remains unopened in its cellophane wrapping. It may be worth a lot of money one day! "The yellow shirt?" you ask; it's still hanging in the closet waiting for a button. :)                                                              

Peace.