It’s time to come clean on the fact that I actually have another clothing addiction, apart from scarves.
I am addicted to t-shirts. This realisation came rather suddenly when I received surprise gifts of t-shirts from two different friends in the same week. One lovely friend who had been in London sent me a shirt from Speedy’s Cafe. I will now pause to allow the Sherlock fans to squeak with jealousy. The other wonderful friend sent me two NCIS related t-shirts.
It made me sit and look closely at my t-shirt collection, which made me realise one thing. All of my t-shirts have meanings and associations for me.
My friends (and family) know my loves, and encourage them with t-shirts. This is one of the reason I love my peeps so much. They know me, accept my foibles, and damn well enable them.
When I looked at the t-shirts I have bought for myself, I came to the conclusion that during the summer months I am literally wearing my life experiences on my chest. The t-shirts I have bought for myself are from places I have visited, or theatrical productions I have been too, TV shows I love etc.
I don’t wear all my shirts at once. I have about a dozen or fifteen I wear and keep the others spare to take out when one of the ones I am wearing carks it.
Going through my collection I noticed that I have enough t-shirts from Orange County, California to keep me going for the next ten years. Well, the t-shirt shop at Huntington Beach was having a sale! And who can resist a t-shirt with a picture of a kitten in a deckchair with the legend “Life’s A Beach”? Well, not me, anyway.
Also in my to-be-worn pile is a tee from an indoor rock climbing venue in Auckland, New Zealand. My one and only attempt at rock climbing. It was fun. And I will remember it every time I wear the shirt.
Another shirt is from the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney. A reminder of another wonderful afternoon spent with a fantastic friend. Oh the fun we had exploring the ships.
A look back at photo albums from my trip to the UK in 1996 show that even then I was proudly wearing my life experiences on my chest. A t-shirt from a Billy Connolly show, one from a David Strassman one, another from a Star Trek convention. Memories, memories, memories. And yes, I brought back wonderful t-shirts from the UK too.
I know some people whine about t-shirts like this being free advertising for the companies and/or places involved. I don’t care. To me these shirts are another way of recording my life experiences.
Been there; Bought the t-shirt. Lots of t-shirts.