old clothes

all clothes (or accessories) have an estimated shelf life. take shoes for example, when I buy a pair of shoes I expect them to last me about a year to a year and a half before being replaced (this is providing they are getting regular use). Most articles of clothing live close to their expected age before they are thrown away, donated, handed down, or made to be a 'work shirt' (I said shirt but this could be article). the passing through of clothes usually goes without incident and the person ridding themselves of the article has no special attachment. Sometimes the article lasts much shorter and we get mad. maybe it was expensive, may we only wore it a couple times, maybe you put a little too much mustard on that hot dog.... whatever. point is, its gone and you're not happy.
But isn't it great when an article lasts much longer then expected? when most items reach their expiry date we start shopping around and plan the transition but once in a while an item sneaks through and somehow avoids being replaced. the most interesting part of this is that when the article is discovered to still be around after all this time we don't immediately throw it out (I don't at least), rather we get impressed by the article and somehow a special bond is formed. A "you and me to the end" sort of thing. this article may get disgusting and may even lose part of its value but we become so impressed and sentimentally attached that not only do we not want to get rid of it but if someone else even suggested the idea it would become offensive.
I was packing up my backpack the other day and the thought occurred to me "I've had this backpack forever" when I thought about it I actually don't remember not having this particular backpack. it is old, tattered, filthy, and 2 zippers don't work. I could easily buy a more functional and better looking backpack but I really don't want to. me and this backpack have been through so much. its me and it to the end.