AULD LANG SYNE

To good friends!

Adrienne, Kate, Tory, Kenneth, Tom - though I never had you, I so admire you from a distance -, Anne, my go to gal, Tommy - yeah, not so much, Calvin, Donna, Ralph, where would I be without my Polos!- Joe J, D & G, and of course, Michael...Michael... Michael. My sweet, dear Michael:

I am not saying good bye, just saying see ya later! Each and everyone of you has touched my life in so many ways. Kate and Tory, my feet and shoulders have adorned your genius! Kenneth, Michael and even Adrienne, you all have been with me on those very special occasions that, well, not everyone was up to the task! Ralphie, my man! In a pinch, I can throw on any number of your Polos and be out the door, stlyin' it babe! And no J. Crew, I could never forget you! My gosh, when I was down and out and could not find a thing that fit, you always came threw for me! Double zero,baby, jeesch! Joe, you hug me in all the right places! My love, Michael K, the K-man, The Style meister, I breath you in! I can smell your stores before I even pull into the parking lot - even of a new plaza I have never visited! Michael, you are my favorite, but I think you know that...

We may run into each other now and then, but in truth, for this one school year, it won't be the same. The gleam in my eyes, the spritely steps into the stores, the ooze of confidence, well, it won't be there - for a while.

IN THE BEGINNING...

I shopped - not until I dropped, but until I felt full and happy. I shopped when I was bored, when I thought I needed or had to have that something now! Shoes, purses, pants, jackets, watches, sweaters - you name it, I had a justification for why I needed it and needed it now! No joke, several times I have returned home to discover I already purchased a dress or sweater. Instead of recognizing my addiction, I would giggle and compliment myself on my good tastes! Once, walking out of a store, I turned to Ted and actually said, "Well, every girl needs something ugly in her closet!" Ted just gave me THE TED LOOK that is defined by his inablilty to understand my logic.

Ironically, twice a year, I park myself in the bedroom converted into my closet and purge my possessions. Some I pack up to bring to school for my colleagues, some I pack up to go to The Salvation Army, and the rest, I simply pack into large garbage bags and throw out. Many times my colleagues will say, "Trace, this still has the price tag on it!" This process is always cathartic for me - out with the old, in with the new! In reality, removing the clutter, the undesirables from my life is what I actually reveled in - until I made more purchases.... and then more purchases that enabled me to continue the purchase and purge process six months later.

Nearing 50, I find myself thinking of retiring in six or seven years and the desire to continue traveling. The thought that two week check will not be coming in is scaring me - shop less! This process of not shopping for an entire school year, is frightening.

How much many can I save by not buying that purse or those jeans?