Dear Maggie Montclair,
My husband died over 4 years ago, and I still have all of his things. His clothes are in his dresser and closet. His tools are in the garage right where he left them. Is this normal, or do I need to get help as my sister suggests? I have room for his things, and they give me pleasure. So, why get rid of them?
Full closets in Connecticut
Dear Full Closets,
If this is really not an emotional issue for you then getting rid of everything except for one shirt should not be a problem. It is customary to give away items that are no longer needed. The inability to do so might be an indication that other problems are surfacing. If that is the case, some counseling could prove helpful. There are many men who need and would greatly appreciate his clothing. Maybe a relative would welcome the opportunity to have and use his tools. It not, you could sell them and donate the cash to his favorite charity.
His things are just 'things.' You will always have the memories to savor. M
P.S. Gertie's paper boy's mother's cousin not only couldn't give away her husband's clothing, she kept buying more in his size and hanging them in his closet. When his closet was stuffed, she hung clothes in her closet. After 10 years, every closet in the house was bulging.
To prove that 'truth is stranger than fiction,' she met a wonderful man and fell in love again. When they married she disposed of all the men's clothing that had overtaken her house because they weren't the right size for the new man in her life. Problem solved.
