Just Musing: Spring means track season, proms and allergies

An invitation by my great-nephew, Charlie, to come to one of his track meets took me down memory lane ? especially with the cooler and wetter weather we’ve had this month.

I remember going to watch my kids track meets and baseball games dressed warmer than during football season. An umbrella also was handy to have accessible. And while I’m sitting all bundled up, they are in shorts and often sleeveless tops. I was only able to convince them to at least wear a long sleeve T-shirt under their uniform or a pair of sweat pants over their shorts when the others are doing so.

I haven’t made it to one of Charlie’s track meets yet, but am hoping May will be warmer and I can get to one or two of them before he graduates in June. I guess you could label me a fair weather aunt and I’m not alone.

Prom attire and lifelong memories

Prom season is also upon us. I remember my high school proms and all the excitement of getting dressed in formals and the guys in new suits or slacks and a dinner jacket. That, of course, was before tuxedos were the dress of choice for boys and most formals were full length.

I love seeing all the pictures on social media of today’s fashions and fads, the array of colors from pastels to vibrant colors and how they coordinate colors with their date. I hope they realize they are making lifelong memories with these events.

Losing a sock in the wash is so frustrating when you are so sure you put a matching pair or pairs in when you loaded the washer. I was straightening my sock drawer this past week and found at least four mismatched socks and almost threw them all in the trash.

A story and socks and sheets

It is a good thing I didn’t. It was laundry day to wash the sheets and I had an 11:45 a.m. doctor appointment. I usually wash the sheets and put them back on the bed instead of getting another set out of the closet. I admit I do this so I don’t have to fold the fitted sheet. Knowing I would be running close on time, I pulled a set out of the closet to make the bed while the others were washing and drying.

What do you think I found in the fitted sheet corners that had been stored away? If you guessed two missing socks, you nailed it! I still haven’t figured out how I missed them because I had all four corners on my hands when folding it. The moral of the story: switch out your sheets more often, Brenda.

I have a random question for seasonal allergy sufferers like myself. Have you been more miserable with runny nose and scratchy eyes this spring than usual? I thought I was miserable in Florida this winter, but it has been twice as bad since returning to Ohio. My allergist told me this week I’m not alone ? he has had more patients complain this spring than normal and he attributes it to the winds and rains keeping he allergen culprits down where we breathe it. Makes sense to me.

Let me leave you with this quotation by an unknown author: “Always turn a negative situation into a positive situation.”

Until next week, be safe and be kind.

Brenda Donegan is a former Marion Star staffer. She may be reached at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Remembering high school years and a laundry lesson