By Lauren Kovacs

Old man winter is finally sleeping. While bikini weather is not welcome, the sunshine is and I need it and flowers. Heat I can do without. I need the grey to go away.

NC this year has had strange weather. Gosh, I sound like an old man talking about the weather. I promise I am not an old man. Old…some days I feel old.

Spring is full of rain and up and weather. NC has big swings, this time of year. Now we are in season five. Pollen. It is like snow and it also means cold, wet, grey skies, but dormant vegetation are about to vanish. My favorite chocolate is around too. It better start laying those Cadbury Creme Eggs. Come on furball, lay those eggs faster.

This also a good time for personal Spring cleaning. No, I don’t mean more showers. I mean getting rid of stuff. Tidy up.

My shorts are winking at me and my tee-shirts are waiting. First, before I organize, I must purge. I grew up as a Navy brat and became very frugal. I said “became,” as in past tense.

That quality is on sabbatical with other parts of me. So, while not a hoarder, I keep things too long. 20 years holding a shirt from eighth grade was way too long. I had good reasons. Still fit, plain, looked good, great color, etc. Never wore it in years, but I had learned to not get rid of stuff like that. I let it go only to have to buy another one the same color.

I do feel better with less stuff. Wish I could purge MS as part of Spring cleaning. I buy because I can’t drive, low energy, thus I order. I have a few brands I can buy and not try on. I am slowly parting with buttons and zippers. A sad break-up. Not easy to find elastic waists. I get them, due to their rarity, and save them.

I try to get rid of two for every new. I feel like I am purging me. MS often forces me to purge. Choose to purge. MS purges a lot that we have no say in.