Culling the herd

The Great Sweep

 

Strangers had made their way to the back corner where Flashlight reclined.

What can we do? They asked him. We can’t understand them, the crackling and snapping?  They complained. How will we ever find our way in this strange land?

Wise and bright Flashlight cleared his batteries a little.  Oh, little ones.  You cannot understand the way of the Sock.  Theirs is a life fraught with danger.  Each one may leave and not return.

WELL.  That rattled them, it rolled them.  What shall we do, Old Wise Flashlight?

He felt their pain and fright.  You must journey through the Socks to the Front of the Sock Drawer.  It is the only way you will be rescued.

They accepted his wise advice.  But, will you show us the way?

Flashlight sadly blinked.  No, my place is here with the Socks.  I must light their way in the darkness.

The sorted odd objects from turned and began their trek across to barren dresser top.. 

Flashlight knew his time would end soon, and then he too would make the trek.

 

P.S.  Here is the first post done about the Land of the Sock Drawer:

 http://thecontemplativecat.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-in-sock-drawer.html

 

Sock Drawer: Strangers in a Strange Land

After the tick-tick blue round was heaved out the drawer, the Sock Drawer resumed it general pace and rhythm.  Socks left, were worn, sent to the dreaded Laundry Land, and hopefully returned. 

Gossip was still the primary form of entertainment.  The tick-tick had provided a brief break bringing Socks to near unraveling point.  Now, Sock residents resumed chattering of lint, static, and thread snapping.

But what about the Strangers?  The unique and curious objects that had been swept off the Land of Dresser Top, and landed in the Sock Drawer?  Gossip and speculation was the big topic among the resident socks.

The shabby-chic striped nylon/spandex (who managed to stay, despite an obvious hole in the cuff) was the most vitriolic about them.  She shook the hole at the Strangers, bitching in her peculiar way…And look!  Look at the shoddy bright green…thing!..

The other sassy socks of poly/nylon/spandex genre joined with Shabby Sock.  The atmosphere was rife with lint and crackling.  A riot was building, and in a land of static could set off a storm of electric charge. 

Source

Then Wise Argyle stepped in and stopped them with the boldness of his diamond woven in brown/blue/tan woolen and spandex.  He remembered the Electric Charge Storm from the last riot, the one when the new Christmas socks arrived.  Oh, no. 

But what about the Strangers??  Where were they and what were they doing while the riot wound down?

What to do next?!

Source: TACLUDA

One of the curses of a migraine life is that it must be lived indoors, away from the light, in nearly complete silence.

The only joy of such a life is a focused expression.  Whether it is writing or some other creation, the scope is narrowed and intense.

Think of a funnel.  Pour a liquid in the broad end and forcing it to condense, collapse in order to exit a narrow port.  Kinda sounds like giving birth, which I guess in a sense it is.

Writing is one joy, when I can retrieve the words from a reluctant brain that hurts intensely.  Samuel and Adventures in the Sock Drawer are part of that joy.

For Benjamin

Colors and color combination.  Working with shapes.  Putting them in a pleasing, exciting pattern is the reward. Sewing and quilting is that reward.

For Eli (still in progress)

For Aimee

For Benjamin

Wall hanging for Erin (unfinished when photo was taken)

Obviously, I have had many migraines.

For me

But I have much joy.

P.S.  There are other quilts, but could not locate my photos. Dang.

Disturbance of the Force in the Sock Drawer

Source: tick..tick...tick

When the Sock Drawer heard the history of the new foreigners of the Drawer, they were astounded.  Until now, the only foreigner had been the flashlight in very back of the drawer, and he appeared to be sleeping most of the time.

Caution was the order of the elders.  Take care when approaching.  But the young socks did not listen, as the young do not.  The glowing numbers from the round object with aqua blue attachments drew all with its mystery.  The persistent tick-tick-tick at first was amusing in its regularity.  The glow produced just enough light that the socks were entranced by its rhythm and shimmer.

Spontaneous dance began, slowly at first and then emerged as 1-2-3 and 1-2-3.  Soon the entire drawer was whirling about to the rhythm, each with their mate.

Then the unthinkable happened.

The singles socks swung into the mix, the male socks broke off from their mates and continued the 1-2-3 with the single socks. 

Source

The older socks gasped and sought out the Elder Sock with the rubber tread.  She moved slowly the front of the crowd.  A fury of angry lint flurried about her.  THIS must stop immediately!  All obeyed without question. 

A conflagration of the Elder Sock, the Woolen Argyles from Scotland, along with a few old Christmas Socks was held in the far corner by the flashlight.  Wisps of lint rose, and static crackled.  Really?  Do you think we should?  Oh, this has never happened before!

It must be done!

The plan was explained in such authoritative terms to all that not one sock could dispute it.

The ticking circle was wrestled into and slightly through the open crack in the drawer.  The peculiar square was pushed with great effort.  Then all socks moved to the back of the drawer, followed by great momentum to the front.  The drawer opened just a smidge.  Repeating this great effort, the round ticking circle worked its way through the opening.

Gathering beneath the blue object the socks pushed up and up.  With a whish the tick-tick circle flew out of the circle, landing on the floor.

For some time in the days that followed, the tick-tick-tick could still be heard.  When it abruptly stopped, the younger socks mourned.  The older socks sighed in relief.

P.S.  The previous post from the Land of Sock Drawer was this:  http://thecontemplativecat.blogspot.com/2012/08/massacre-in-sock-drawer.html
and this  http://thecontemplativecat.blogspot.com/2013/07/disturbance-of-force-in-sock-drawer.html

The Sock Drawer: The Great Sweep

The Open Plain of Bureau Top

Few remembered the Great Sweep, as this event occurred sporadically and quickly.  Those who did could give only sparse details and explanations.  This time, however, the Lace Trouser Socks had been taken out and lay upon the Bureau Top:  they witnessed the Great Sweep.

After all was done and they had been returned to Sock Drawer, they lay stunned as the other socks gathered around them.  Slowly, Mr. Lace Trouser began to explain. 

Having been pulled from the Sock Drawer and placed upon the Bureau Top, they had observed a flat plain stretching as far as could be seen.  Treasures of all sorts were strewn on this plain, along with glittering cylinders titled “Inis” and “Regenerist”.  So many treasures, such a wealth beyond imagination lay on the Open Plain. 

Then the Sock Drawer was opened, just beneath the Bureau Top Plain, and all the small treasures were swept into the Sock Drawer.  Whoosh…sweep…slam.  It was over so quickly. 

Mrs. Lace Trouser continued to speak of Stranger entering the Room Beyond as the socks were being pulled upon the Owner’s leg.  The Great Sweep had something to do with the Stranger coming to the room.  Clearly the Alpha, the Stranger gave approval for the now empty Bureau Top Open Plain.

Questions, so many questions had to be asked about this Open Plain, the Bureau Top, and the Room Beyond. But for now, the newly-returned Lace Trouser Socks needed to rest. 

What treasures!  

The residents turned their attention to the treasures.  Wonderment would soon fill the world of Sock Drawer.

P. S.  The last post on the Sock Drawer is this: http://thecontemplativecat.blogspot.com/2012/08/massacre-in-sock-drawer.html

Fate in the Sock Drawer

source

The occupants of Sock Drawer saw this coming.  All the indicators were present, and doom was inevitable.  

Clustered together in the dark recesses of the Sock Drawer, whispers and muted conversations rose from the worried pairs.  Gold Toes and Ankle Crews rolled into little balls and hid in the dark corners.

Whenever a pair of socks reached “Favored Socks” status, it was only a matter of time before the end would come.  This would be the fate of the Neon Green Sport Socks.

Hard wearing and dryer heat were a sock’s mortal enemies. 

It was barely noticeable at first, but tiny holes began to appear.  Thin patches on the reinforced heels and rips along the double-stitched toes were the tell-tale signs.  The Neon Greens acknowledged this.

When they returned from the dryer time, the Neon Greens called the Sock Drawer inhabitants together.  All gathered around the Greens to say their good-byes.  

Lint was shed in copious amounts and static electricity charged each one as the Greens touched their worn toes to others.  Spandex to wool, cotton to mixed blends, without words farewells were expressed.

The next time the Neon Greens left the drawer would be their last.

Such is the fate of all well-loved, well-worn socks.

source

Christmas returns to the Sock Drawer

Christmas in the Sock Drawer returned with much celebration.  The glimmer of hope felt after the Massacre of July ’12 now burst into full flame. 

Like most good things, the flame came unexpectedly.  One day the sock organizer had been torn from the drawer and the socks had been dumped back in the drawer to co-mingle and become reacquainted.  Then soon thereafter…

The Wool Argyle from a Seattle trip remembered it best, relating the story to every new addition to the Sock Drawer.  “The drawer opened slowly with the slant of light blinding us all.  Then from the light tumbled all manner of old friends, now reunited with their beloved mates…”

Apparently, all the lost socks had been put aside until some gentle old person had sorted through the mound, reconnecting long parted socks.  Only a few lonely socks had remained behind in the basket, hoping for their own return.

“There they were:  gold toes, Easter flowers, Halloween pumpkins, ragged crew tops, and compressions!  All had been tied together, joined once again.  Oh, the glory!  You socks fresh from Kohl’s and JCPenney’s will find what it means one of these days…”

Socks awaiting their fate

So it was on Christmas Eve that the new Christmas socks were surrounded by all the Sock Drawer inhabitants.  The glow-in-the-dark Halloween socks illuminated the dark space as the elderly surgical sock with the rubberized chevrons came forward and announced the blessing on all present.

The Argyle sighed.  “…unfortunately, surgical sock had returned alone to the drawer, despite being tied with her mate.  Apparently, there was talk of his indiscretions with the lone lacey trouser sock.  He never made it back to the drawer, poor sod…”

All was well.

For previous adventures in the sock drawer:
http://thecontemplativecat.blogspot.com/2012/11/return-to-drawer-of-sock.html
http://thecontemplativecat.blogspot.com/2012/08/massacre-in-sock-drawer.html
and
http://thecontemplativecat.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-in-sock-drawer.html

Return to Drawer of Sock

Return of the Sock Drawer    Susan Kane October 29, 2012

Silence ruled the sock drawer since the Great Sock Massacre of July '12.  Since that horrific day, chatter between socks had slowed to a whisper, and was now almost absent.  The soul-sucking cubicle drawer organizer had led to mind-numbing monotony.

Drawer open, drawer open, washer then dryer, drawer open…  Even the time being worn no longer felt like an adventure, but an obligation.

When hope had flown and joy had shriveled to a piece of dryer lint, a glimmer of change over the horizon appeared.

But would it arrive in time?

More to come…

Refer to Massacre in the Sock Drawer 
AND
Christmas in the Sock Drawer 

Christmas in the Sock Drawer

It is Christmas everywhere, and the sock drawer is no different.  Sock drawers everywhere gather on Christmas Eve to celebrate this special night; they don’t understand it, but they recognize its importance.

The leaders of this tight-knit community are the compression socks.  Being the most expensive and well-traveled, they have stay mated for many years.  Given the honor of being hand-washed, they have maintained their close bond for an eternity in sock-time.

“Alright then, everyone!  Everyone, let’s welcome our newcomers to Sock Drawer:  Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph, Mr. and Mrs. Snowmen, and Mr. and Mrs. Candy Cane!  We are glad to see some new heels and toes!”

The newcomers chuckle, and respond, “At Kohl’s, only 3 for $5!  Buy them now!”  They were limited in their language, being recently made in China.

Other theme socks gather around them in welcome.  Some were still with their mates, but most were now singles.  It is a sad fact in Sock Drawer that some mates never return from Land of Wash and Dry.  

“Let’s move on to the lighting of the tree!”  Mrs. Compression Sock called.  The one Christmas Tree sock came forward, followed by the white athletic socks carrying a mini-flashlight that had slid back into the corner, under a bunch of tangle knee-highs stockings (who were above a plebeian gathering like this).

With great ceremony, the oldest solo sock came forward.  It was a surgical slipper, brought to the drawer over ten years ago.  Ragged and faded with a chevron rubber pattern on the sole, it hobbled forward, its elastic nearly gone.

"Stretch your toes a little and join together as we light the tree!"  It pronounced in a thin worn voice.  A lone mitten clicked on flashlight.  A spontaneous sigh of awe erupted.  The newcomers were overcome, and wept, “95% cotton, 5% spandex!”

Mr. Compression sock cleared his throat and began singing the Christmas hymn, and was soon joined by footwear alike.

“Oh, Come all you footwear!  Cotton and Acrylic!

Oh come ye, oh come ye, to our Christmas sock!

Made in China, Vietnam and India.

Oh come ye plaids and sportswear!

Oh come ye plains and Gold Toes!

Oh come woolens and elastic

To see the Christmas tree!”

No gifts were exchanged, none were needed.  The time together, perhaps for this one time only, was enough.


P.S.  Starting today, some reflections from 2011 A-Z Challenge
will be posted.  Please click on the site shown here, or on the button on the right side.