socks.

Growing up, there was always a sock shortage. Though my mom tried to keep clean socks on hand, it was her against our first dog, Maho, who loved to hold them in her mouth, cover them in puppy spit, carry them outside and chew/shred them to pieces. We were always hiding our socks from her and then again, once Libby came in to the picture. But we were no match for our retrievers, whose modern day duck was the sock. It didn't help that when my mom wasn't looking, my dad and i would tie our old socks into knots and "forgetfully" drop them in the dog's path. And then play the "hey! you got my sock - imma gunna getchu" game that was always so entertaining for both the dog and us.
In college, and even when i was abroad in Italy, when my mom would send care packages, full of baked good and other little treats, the box was also always filled with new pairs of socks - white socks, wool socks, decorative socks, etc. When i opened packages in front of friends, they were so confused by this unlikely addition, especially when i had never complained of needing more socks or having a sock fetish.
And now, M. has picked up on it too. I am always in search of socks to wear and i'm often borrowing from his sock drawer. When we went to Japan, and his sister warned us that we would often be in our stocking feet when visiting various temples, M. suggested we go sock shopping immediately.
It seems that i am always buying socks so how is it that i never have a pair? We don't have a dog in the apartment and all of M.'s socks seem to come back from the laundromat perfectly matched. It just doesn't add up.
But then i said something that got me and M. thinking. After ice skating in rented skates, my socks smelled like death (note: my feet do not smell, it was that i was borrowing skates that strangers had been wearing too ). Even though it was chilly out, i decided i would rather put my bare feet in my sneakers than leave those stinkers on. I didn't have a purse with me and couldn't stomach putting those foul things in the pocket of my down vest so i decidedly told M. that i was going to throw them out on the way home. He looked at me, shocked. Apparently, socks are not meant to be disposable - just because they're dirty. Or so he says.
In closing, this example illustrates the lack of importance i place on socks and may contribute to the reason why i have spent my whole life trying to keep my feet warm.