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Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Shifting Priorities (or maybe it's just this damnned cold)
I think that either my expectations have become considerably more modest in recent years... or perhaps my priorities have simply shifted.
For instance, when I was about to turn forty I bought myself a shiny new Jeep Cherokee (Sahara Edition) and planned a nice cross-country trip on Route 66. Back then, a shinny car and the open road were the acme of self-indulgence.
Yesterday I got home from work well after 9PM sniffling under the tail end of a cold I've been dragging around for a few days. I sat down on the couch to a nice dinner of warm leftovers and a cup of hot tea that was set on a snack table in front of the History channel... and felt like I had won the lottery.
But wait... the evening just kept getting better!
Zahava came up from her office to check on me and handed me a package of three new pairs of socks.
Now, to fully understand the depth to which this gift warmed my soul you'd have to peek into my sock drawer. There you would find (no exaggeration) well over 40 singletons (socks with no match) that I can't bear to throw away... y'know, in case their mates should ever return from the ashram in India where they've been off 'finding themselves'... and another 6-8 pairs of socks with transparent spots in the toes and/or heels which I hold onto in case of a laundry strike (something Zahava threatens periodically).
In among all these misfits and walking wounded are perhaps 4 or 5 pairs of marginally-presentable socks (and even some of those are starting to get a bit threadbare). Maybe I should learn to darn socks (does anyone even do that anymore? ).
The problem is that I hate shopping for clothes in general... but I loathe shopping for socks! You see, nobody ever seems to have the kind I like: Not too thick and not too thin... earth tones and dark blues (but not too dark)... maybe a little extra reinforcement in the toes and heel. Too thick and they make shoes fit funny... too thin and they give you that vaguely clammy feeling of 'going commando'.
[sigh]
Anyway, last night while I sat sniffling on the couch, watching TV and eating leftover comfort food from shabbat, my wife handed me three specimens of sockdom so perfect that if I had personally supervised their design and manufacture they could not have possibly been more to my taste!
Um, yeah... I think maybe my priorities in life might have shifted a tad over the past few years.
[sniffle]
Posted by David Bogner on December 6, 2006 | Permalink
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Comments
That's a sure sign that your wife TRULY knows you and what will make you happy! :)
Posted by: val | Dec 6, 2006 1:53:35 PM
My husband seems to share your views on the perfect pair of socks. Men need more variety in thier clothes!
Posted by: Chaya Tova Miller | Dec 6, 2006 2:57:24 PM
David
I solved my socks problem long ago. I buy 9 pairs of the exact same sock (three packages of three) every once in a while. When you lose a single sock, it's no big deal because you just wait till you lose your next single sock and then you still have a complete pair.
When you see that the sock supply is getting low, you just go out and buy another 9 pairs.
The trick, of course, is finding the right base pair of socks. Once you do, shazzam, you are done forever.
Posted by: mochassid | Dec 6, 2006 3:21:23 PM
It's amazing when you have a cold, the simple things in life seem so comforting.
I love your line about saving the single ones just in case they return. I do the same thing with my children's socks. I have a special box for those misfit socks - sorta like the island of the misfit toys. I was so excited the other day, when I discovered a mate...in all places, the trunk of my car. You just never know where they hide.
Posted by: jaime | Dec 6, 2006 4:12:33 PM
Tip for what to do with your old socks:
Use them for dusting your house! You just stick your hand in a sock (you can dampen it beforehand or spray dusting spray on it if that's what you like) and then just rub your hand over the shelves and other furniture.
This is especially good for dusting blinds and other small spaces.
When you are done, throw the sock into the same pile as the smartutim you use to wash the floors, and every so often wash the whole pile with a lot of bleach.
Don't thank me, I'm a giver.
Posted by: Sarah | Dec 6, 2006 5:16:00 PM
Costco- Buy in bulk every so often and you'll never run out of socks.
Posted by: Jack | Dec 6, 2006 6:14:43 PM
Can't relate to the socks problem (maybe women have it easier in the hosiery dept?) but I totally feel the same way about shifting priorities. What makes me happy now are such simple things, people would laugh. But the good thing is that you are happy that the simple things make you happy. (at least that's how I like to look at it)
Posted by: Essie | Dec 6, 2006 6:14:50 PM
A good mystery story and a good bar of chocolate....now, THAT'S the life...
Posted by: westbankmama | Dec 6, 2006 6:24:35 PM
Oh boy. Socks.
All I need is my bed and my cat. That's it.
My priorities have gone way, WAY down since the beginning of the school year... *Sigh*
Posted by: Irina | Dec 6, 2006 6:59:58 PM
Having the right socks is so essential.
Clearly you see that - but it somewhat suprises me that you wouldn't enjoy the quest of the perfect sock.
Posted by: weese | Dec 6, 2006 7:18:42 PM
Man that evening sounds like a dream for me, and I'm only 28. I don't even want to think about what I will consider a dream time at 40 at this rate. Oh and on the sock issue, I was used to having well worn socks before I moved here, but now that I duchan (priestly blessing) every morning, I need socks without holes and such, very frustrating.
Posted by: Max Power | Dec 6, 2006 7:52:08 PM
Confession time, Trep. It's at least partly genetic. I have a form of this malady, too. Nothing on your scale, of course. I have three (maybe five) singleton strays in my drawer at home in CT, and one already in just three weeks here in Jerusalem. Each occurrence is "impossible", but there you are. Biblical miracles are better.
In any case, I trust you are relieved to know that it's not your fault--it's just a cluster of recessive genes come to fruition.
Dad
Posted by: Delmar Bogner | Dec 6, 2006 8:26:49 PM
Hi Trep,
I don't think that there are any significant number of people "darning" socks anymore. My great aunt who grew up with the skill WON'T do it anymore. She says it's too easy to buy new ones these days to bother with that... she grew up during the Blitz in Britain.
My solution to the socks dilemma is this:
I buy SEVERAL packages of the same sock when I do (usually at least 12-36 pairs)...
And I only keep two types of socks... white ones and dark black ones.
When one of my socks goes off to "Ashram" or whereever, I feel secure that he has a few dozen other "twins" being part of a "thirty-six-uplet" litter.
It also helps me to discard the holey thin ones since I know there are plenty of others.
I don't remember too many "big box" stores when I spent my time in Israel, but I imagine they exist these days.
I usually get mine at Target, Walmart, Costco or similar "mass discount" stores.
Thanks to that practice, "sock orphans" are no longer a worry for me.
Good luck, Trep!
May you and yours be blessed everyday!
Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
Posted by: Maksim-Smelchak | Dec 6, 2006 8:40:56 PM
Hi Trep,
I forgot to say:
I'm still enjoying the "Noggin, dude" post from a bit back.
Thanks!
Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
Posted by: Maksim-Smelchak | Dec 6, 2006 8:42:45 PM
Feel better Trep.
I used to darn socks (back in my very poor days) but honestly it's very uncomfortable to have even small stitches sewn into the bottoms of your socks especially near the toes or heels where they tend to rip.
Socks are made so cheaply (and are so cheap) that it doesn't pay to repair them anymore.
Posted by: Shifra | Dec 6, 2006 10:35:51 PM
My husband is a picky sock guy too. I always thought he was weird for only wearing brown, army green, navy or black socks. And the toe and heel have to be reinforced, perferably with a different complementary color to the rest of the sock. He reserves special love for socks with stripes at the top. I never knew there were other men out there like him. My dad and brothers will only wear solid white socks.
Posted by: Fern | Dec 7, 2006 12:28:46 AM
I'm 38 for another 3 days. Your evening sounds unbeatable to me.
Feel better. Wear those new socks in good health.
Posted by: Doctor Bean | Dec 7, 2006 6:20:45 AM
Hee hee. Priority shift, indeed. For this kid, it's all about family and friends now (though good food doesn't hurt, either).
I've found that the Gap's dress socks are great when purchased on sale- inexpensive, high quality, durable, comfortable. The only hitch in that plan is the fact that the nearest Gap is, ah, more than a stone's throw away from you :-P
Enjoy the new socks! Titchadesh!
Posted by: tnspr569 | Dec 7, 2006 9:02:04 AM
I'm in the "buy 4,500 pairs of socks that please and fit" brigade.
For me, orphan sox live in the laundry basket for two weeks, then they are relegated to the rag basket, where items for cleaning/dusting live.
Out here in California, we occasionally have frosty mornings. Turning the car on about 5 minutes before departure, plus wiping the windshield with sock-covered hands, does the job.
Posted by: Liz | Dec 7, 2006 11:18:46 AM
Never underestimate the value of a good pair of socks.
I have a special location for orphan socks, outside the main drawer.
Believe it or not, I have reunited pairs after several months of separation. I have no idea how that is even remotely possible, but it happens nontheless.
Posted by: psychotoddler | Dec 7, 2006 4:55:48 PM
Val... Like that was ever in question?
Chaya Tova Miller... You girls need to make up your minds! You want monogamy? Well, our monogamy extends to our clothing as well. :-)
mochassid... I don't have the nerve to do that. The few times I have bought socks in bulk they have turned out to be duds (bad elastic, clammy feel, etc.)
jaime... I can't recall the last time a mate turned up .
Sarah... What is this dusting you spoke of?
Jack, Like I said earlier... the few times I have bought in bulk I have regretted it but felt honor bound to wear the bad socks until they wore out or were lost.
Essie... Kind of like the end of 'The giving tree' (I love that book).
Westbankmama... HOT chocolate!
Irina... You're too young to be talking like that! :-)
Weese... That sounds suspiciously like shopping.
Max Power... Wow, I never thought of that. Kohanim need to plan ahead.
Dad... Of course you and I have VERY different taste in socks. Go figure.
Maksim-Smelchak... Glad you liked the 'noggin' post. As to buying in bulk, that's a non-starter for me )as I explained above) and I need more variety than you described.
Shifra... I imagine it would be. Oh, and I remember hearing the song "Eleanor Rigby' by the Beatles and thinking that 'Father Mckenzie' was swearing at his socks.
Fern... I'm not quite as picky as your husband... but I do have strong preferences. I have to say I'm trying to picture the men in your family wearing white socks with business attire. :-)
Doctor Bean... Thanks Doc. Happy Birthday.
tnspr569... Yeah GAP. Thanks. Great advice. :-)
Liz... My problem is that the best socks I have ever owned are ones I have bought on business trips when I have forgotten to pack socks. They are perfect and I can never remember where I bought them.
psychotoddler... If I had the nerve to take the orphans out of the drawer I would just chuck 'em. :-)
Posted by: treppenwitz | Dec 7, 2006 9:45:26 PM
