A Good Thing
I remember a time when a common device on TV and in the movies was for ‘blue’ women to cheer themselves by buying a new hat. This may actually have been true in society at large, but I can’t remember my father telling my mother, sister or me to go out and get a new hat just for jollies. Of course, we weren’t really a hat wearing family.

It is with a bit of surprise that I have noticed that I have developed the habit of cheering myself up with new dishtowels. Fancy, luxury dishtowels. It all started last Christmas (2001), when I returned a sweater to a store and couldn’t find a suitable sweater to take its place. Instead, armed with a store credit, I found myself facing an incredible array of kitchen linens. I came home with 4 nice tea towels, two pot holders, plus a new bath towel and a still some credit which I used later when Christmas ornaments were marked down by 90%.

The new towels made my Wal-Mart specials and the Williams-Sonoma towels that my late Aunt Tommy purchased for me in the mid-1980’s look quite dreadful by comparison. That is when I fell into the habit of wandering in to places like T.J. Maxx when I was down and troubled and needed something. Paying just $1.50-$2.00 for a $10 dishtowel is such a comforting accomplishment. (I can’t imagine any sane person paying $10 dollars for a tea towel. But they are really nice towels. A joy to behold. A joy to use. Even a joy to launder and fold.) My spiritual director doesn’t think I have a big problem with material attachments. I think it’s time to ‘fess up to the dishtowel fetish.

BUT, as I said, it’s a good thing. Having been home fewer hours this past week and doing less laundry than usual, having a stash of towels has come in real handy. I found a big pile of used towels at the bottom of the basement stairs. (Here is where I should count my blessings. Indeed, it occured to no one to actually wash some kitchen linens. But, at least, they haven’t been using the same nasty towel all week.) It’s a good thing.