It's Just a T-Shirt

A 26-year-old
cotton object that rips
when I touch it. It's
just a ​t-shirt,
​right?

No. It's more.
It contains memories:
My first years of marriage; 
Playing squash with my husband;
Being in my 20's and feeling
invincible; It's so much
more than just
​a t-shirt.

Inspired
by menders
near and far, I got
out a needle, some light
purple thread, and got to work.
I want to wear this fragile
cotton shirt again.
Because...​

Because, well,
I love it. It's
just so
​soft.

Because
in our throw-away
society, mending matters.
And because it's cool
to mend. 

Think 
the art of 
Japanese Boro
also known as Sashiko
​mending.

Think 
slow fashion
sustainable fashion
​re-use.

When I love
something, I care for it.
When I love someone, I care
for them. Love takes time and patience.
It can be messy and slow and it
is always imperfect. But
it's possible. We just
have to show up
and try.

Oh.
​And always
have a sense of humor.
For 26 years, I have only seen
colors, shapes, & an artist's signature.
When I told my husband about this project,
he asked: "Oh, your dancer shirt?"...
"My what? No, the one with
cool colors and
shapes." 

Who knew?
It turns out I had never
actually paid as close attention to
this shirt I love as much as my husband had.
Sometimes I guess we just see what we see. What's
cool is that I didn't feel anything like a
dancer back in the 1990's, but
I definitely do today. It's
now more perfect
​than ever.

Also,
I'm grateful
to my mother for
teaching me how to sew.
Happy Mother's Day
to all!