Sock it to me, sock it to me

May 2024--I knew I wasn’t the only one who has lost a sock here or there—mostly after doing laundry—but I just learned there is an actual day of commemoration to celebrate the disappearance of fuzzy foot coverings.

Obviously millions can relate to this bewildering phenomenon, but far less probably know there’s a holiday to memorialize lost socks. It’s said (don’t ask me who “it’s” is) people lose an average of about 15 socks a year. I do laundry more often than 15 times a year so I’m going to say I probably lose more than the average.

Lost Sock Memorial Day is May 9, (You're going to Google this, aren't you--) and it’s a day to commemorate lost socks. However, unlike most other holidays where we know how to celebrate—like Thanksgiving with a turkey and all the trimmings, or Valentine’s Day with a box of chocolates for your sweetheart—I wasn’t sure what you’re supposed to do on this day.

The official ruling? Let go of all the remaining single socks just waiting to find their mates.

Let go???  Like throw them away???  That’s one way to do it. But not me.

People who knew me long ago might remember my socks never matched. Was it because the match went AWOL? Was it just my style? Or was I just too lazy to dig through my sock drawer to find a matching mate?

I don’t know for sure, but I do recall at any given time if I rolled up my pants legs, there would be a striped knee sock paired with a solid knee sock, or a mid-calf worn with a bright pink anklet.  Heck, even a blue tube sock alongside a crazy-designed crew. I never threw away mismatched socks. To me, that was sacrilegious. 

I still don’t understand how if you put 6 socks in the washer and 6 socks in the dryer, you end up with only 4 when folding the laundry. (Kind of reminds me of those Tupperware lids.)

I guess I could check in the dryer vent that runs to the outside or try moving the washer and dryer to see if by chance they landed underneath. Or I could go look through the towels and see if any of them got wrapped up in the fold. It's easier to just go buy new socks. But—I don’t until I need them. Instead, I wore the mismatched pair as a testament to my fashion prowess. (Or, maybe as a testament to my lack of adequate drawer-searching skills.)

Now that I know there’s a Lost Sock Memorial Day, I’m going to see what I can do to honor all my mismatched socks this year by doing something creative with the ones that made it from the dryer to the drawer. Besides just wearing them, of course.

Maybe I take my single socks and put one on each hand to dust some shelves, tie them in a knot and give them to the dogs as a chew toy, or maybe fill them with beans or rice and use them in one of our summer bag toss games. Whatever I do, I know across the country there will be others paying tribute on this “holiday.” After all, it’s commemorating the ones that got away and honoring the ones that are still with us.

I just might even write a eulogy of sorts letting my dearly departed hosiery know how much they meant to me as the perfect fashion accessory, (especially on cold days)—and how I hope they’ve found a new purpose. Be it a cornhole bag, chew toy, a colorful duster, or maybe even sprucing up someone else's fashion style. You never know!

Now--are there any of you who have NEVER lost a sock after doing laundry? If so, I definitely want to know your secret. And, if you're going to celebrate Lost Socks Day, would love to hear what you plan to do. Scroll down to the bottom to leave your comments!

As always, take it one day at a time...