Storing winter coats in April

 

It’s that time of April, just before tax day, when I open my coat closet and the most wintry coats are heaving sighs and saying, “Brenda, isn’t it time to rest now?” Even though our winters are pretty mild, I don’t have lots of storage space in my house so when they look cramped in that closet and start talking to me, I have to agree: It’s time to go, Kids.

 

 

Being a good steward of my wardrobe I take the hint and pull out my big red suitcase, called Big Red, and roll it into the house from it’s storage place in the garage. It’s been well over a decade since I ever used a suitcase that size for traveling but it makes for great storage. It’s empty now except for several cedar blocks.

This is the home for my wintry coats. They snuggle up together in Big Red and they hang out there until October/November when I pull them out and unpack them. Our reunion in the fall is so delightful. “Blue toggle coat, I love you! Oh, leopard print coat, I’ve missed you so much! Winter white birch tree coat, you delight me!” That’s how it goes. We’re happy, happy, happy.

 

 

Thinking ahead to that joyous reunion takes the sting out of saying buh-bye to these favorites of mine. I think if I had more room in my house, I could very easily slip in a few more coats into my wardrobe. In cold, drab weather they are my pick-me-ups.

So with loving care I pull them out of the coat closet, put them on a table, and prepare to pack them away. We sing songs the whole time.

Here’s our Play List

Don’t You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds

Bye Bye Love by The Cars

I Will Remember You by Sarah McLachlan and Macy Grey

Hello Goodbye by the Beatles

Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright by Bob Dylan

Goodbye My Friend by Linda Ronstadt

 

 

Folding them gingerly, I tuck them into the suitcase. I add more cedar blocks just in case. I won’t lie, my heart is a little heavy when I zip it closed and pull Big Red back into its stall in  the garage. Sometimes I wonder how I can bear to be without them for that many months.

I guess that’s the price of having things you really really love. Sigh. It’s hard to say goodbye (Celine Dion). But I will survive (Gloria Gaynor).

Do you have a storage plan for your wintry items?