The Call to Cleanse

It has been one of those weeks. Not one where bad things happened, but just an accumulation of annoying, irritating occurrences. It started when my youngest daughter threw up on my sandals. Nothing like some vomit between the toes to put you into a great mood. After I took care of her (she had that virus) and cleaned up, I realized that I had burned the rice on the stovetop. And then the washing machine started smoking, the toilet overflowed, and the sprinkler system leaked all over the front yard. Are we having fun yet? I gained five pounds, can no longer fit into my jeans and lost my daughter’s immunization book, a necessary item for school registration.

My breaking point came at the orthodontist’s office. After spending two hours in the chair getting my teeth cranked, I dashed out to the bathroom. Someone had forgotten to flush, so I gave it a courtesy flush. And guess what happened? That toilet overflowed, too.

There was only one thing left to do to cure this situation. When I got home, I grabbed a trash bag and went on a cleaning rampage.

“I’m on a mission,” I told my husband, “I am throwing everything away.”

“Just don’t throw out the insurance papers,” he replied. Now, I am not sure what that was supposed to mean, but I took that as permission to go through his clothing.

My friend Susan called right about the time I was filling up the third garbage bag with Polly Pocket and her evil plastic accessories the size of a breadcrumb. She could hear the excitement in my voice.

“You’re having a good day,” she remarked.

“Oh yes, I am throwing everything out, except for my husband and his insurance papers,” I explained. “It’s either that or pull a Bree from Desperate Housewives.”

“I have the perfect destination for your task at hand.” Susan, the ex-power broker who is tapped into a life outside of her kids, shared, “Classy Seconds, the store for Human Options.”

When she’s not running her kids to Miss Linda’s ballet class or changing diapers, Susan volunteers with Human Options, a non-profit organization that helps battered women and their families. The program has its roots in Laguna Beach, and was located here until 1996 when it moved to a larger facility. The Classy Seconds store not only sells items to help fund the shelter, but also provides clothing to the women and their families.

Well, this was all I needed. I headed back to my closet and took a good look. I had a perfect solution to the tight jean problem. The Throw Away Diet. If it doesn’t fit, throw it away! Surely, someone else would enjoy these jeans more than I do and I could use some room in my closet.

Eight garbage bags later, I can’t tell you how much better I feel. I think everyone needs to go on the Throw Away Diet, even if your jeans fit. So, Sister friends, it’s time to cleanse the closets and support our fellow Sisters who are having a hard time. Grab a garbage bag and start filling it up with those business suits you don’t wear anymore or that sassy shirt that never looks quite right. Classy Seconds is especially in need of gently used clothing for young children, teenage boys, men, and working women.

Who knows? The Throw-Away Diet might even bring you some good mojo. My washing machine started working again, my toilet flushes and best of all, my new jeans fit just fine.


After collecting your items, please call Susan Giusto at tel. 949.376.7191 for Laguna Beach drop-off information. Classy Seconds is located at 419 E. 17th Street, Costa Mesa tel. 949.631.4696 and accepts donations MWF 10 am-4 pm. For more information, please visit www.humanoptions.org.