As I've mentioned before, I have a really hard time getting rid of stuff. And when my mom passed away, I inherited a whole houseful of things I felt I had to keep, most of which ended up in the basement. If it were up to me, that's where it would all have lived forever. But when we sold the house to my son, he understandably wanted it gone.
And so, we had a yard sale at our old house Saturday. In preparation, the stuff we're keeping was boxed and stacked at the new place, but there was a lot left over. I didn't mind letting the bulk of it go, but I did have to go inside and hold back tears for a while when someone asked for "all the old stuff".
The "old stuff" meant my mother's things and my grandmothers' things that I grew up seeing every day. Things that I would never again use or want, but that were loaded with emotional connections.
And when somebody made off with the things from my kids' childhood, it took every ounce of willpower to avoid a full-blown hoarder meltdown straight from that TV show "Buried Alive". I did snatch back one little board game from the pile, but other than that I think I handled it pretty well. Though I do wish I had kept these two toys. And the basket they're sitting in. And that tin just behind them. And the one behind that...
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I have yet to let my kids toys go even though both have left home. Your little post today made me cry. You hold onto the stuff but you cannot hold back time.
What a beautiful post !! I really loved this one !Simply great !!Thanks for sharing !
How sweet they are those two. I'm sure you miss them now, at least you've got a picture of them. It is so hard to get rid of old stuff because there are so many lovely memories attached.
I still get rid of something every spring. I sometimes wonder why I suddenly get that feeling each spring that now it is necessary to clean-up the house and get rid of old clothes and stuff? Is it in the genes?
I completely understand. I would write more, but the tears would come and then we'd all be crying about letting go of the past. It hurts.
oh i understand. I have the hardest time giving my stuff away. Stuffed animals, mainly. I finally did downsize a couple years ago pretty well but I cried like crazy. I love your picture, they're so snuggly :) I too could write more, but then i'd start crying too!
Hi! One thing is to want to clean-up in spring, another is - well, my genes are not stable! I can easily persuade myself to do something more exiting!
If the sun is shining...... *_*
We finally had to let stuff go when we moved 6 years ago..it is hard and I too watch and think about 'Buried Alive"
I have the same problem, unfortunately. However, looking at all the "stuff" my mother=in-law has and will leave us when she dies or moves into a nursing home has made me realize I don't want to leave a BIG mess for my kids to clean up. So I am slowly, very slowly, giving things away. I have discovered that once the items are gone, I am fine. :)
Thyra, there is that, too. Putting it off is so easy, especially if there's something more fun to do. And everything is more fun that that.
Michelle, that show has really made me think. I can't imagine how people can people can live in piles of debris, but I understand the feeling of wanting to hold on to everything.
EGWow, I've started thinking about that, too. And so have my kids.
I'm handing over anything my older son asks for now, and I've already told them that they have my blessing to dispose of the rest when I'm gone.
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