A POEM

CONVERSATION IN TONIA'S CLOTHES CLOSET--2006

"I've never seen you before--where did you come from?", remarked the black slacks to the light blue rick-rack trimmed, full-skirted dress hanging next to her.

"Oh, I'm a 'hand-me-up' from Tonia's daughter. She gained so much weight she couldn't close my zipper...Are you a 'hand-me-up' too?"

"No. I'm a 'hand-me-over', from a friend who didn't want to take me with her when she moved to Hawaii".

"Well--I'm a 'hand-me-down'", boasted a black sweater on the other side. "Tonia found me among her mother's clothes, after she died in 1996. I've been keeping my new owner warm ever since."

"As long as you're all giving yourselves titles, I can say I'm a 'bought-me-new' from Sears", boasted a crisp cotton turquoise dress with red trim. "There aren't many of us in this wardrobe".

"I'm a 'bought-me-new' also", proclaimed a knitted woolen turquoise dress", a gift from her aunt, who knew I was Tonia's favorite color".

"I'm another 'hand-me-down', but the most elegant garment in this whole closet", triumphed a sleek black dress and jacket printed with large red flowers and green leaves. Tonia chose me among the many clothes her aunt left when she died, in 1994. She always dressed in the height of fashion".

"Tonia certainly keeps her clothes a long time", piped up a full, multi-colored skirt. " I bet I'm the oldest, and the only 'sewn -by-hand' on this rack. Tonia made me in Concord, California, back in 1971. I've accompanied her on all her travels...I don't wrinkle, show dirt, or need a slip under me".

"You may be the only 'sewn-by-hand', but I'm the oldest!", exclaimed a soft brown and orange dress. "I'm one of the few 'bought-me-news', from the Grand Passage department store in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1965. I still get compliments when she wears me".

A modest little soft green sweater in the corner murmured, "I'm different from all of you--a 'bought-me-used', from a  thrift store right here in Santa Barbara, California. I cost only $1".

Next to her, a lacy rainbow blouse lamented, "I don't know how I came into this closet". Then she cheered up, "But Tonia loves all of use, no matter where we came from".

PS. "Hi everybody", shouted the newest arrival--a  jaunty bright red jacket. "I'm a hand-me-way-up', from Tonia's granddaughter, who didn't take me along when she went off to college".