My parents are in the process of getting their house ready to put on the market. They are moving to Seattle in the next couple of months (well actually they are moving in January). It is a bit of a nightmare. My parents have been married 36 years- so they have a lot of stuff. Also, they inherited quite a bit of stuff (I am refraining from using other words out of respect) from my dad's parents and from my great grandfather. Seriously- how much can two people have? Okay- two people with 5 kids and 9 grandchildren. We spent the entire day sorting through boxes, making trips to the DI, and moving furniture (they layed new carpet). Yikes- what a LONG day. I did inherit a couple of fun things from my mom and dad. Unfortunately I cannot take any furniture with me- no means of transportation.
I have learned quite a lesson. As soon as I get home I am really going to get rid of the crazy stuff I have saved for years. Yes- I'm talking about the 10 years of Martha Stewarts that are currently sitting on a bookshelf at home. I've already ditched my Vanity Fair magazines from years ago, but really- when am I going to look through my Martha Stewarts. When we moved into our new apartment I started to go through and keep things that looked interesting to me, but it seemed like I was keeping almost every page. Really- when am I going to make that ... in my lifetime?
The most exciting thing- I forgot that I left 4 or 5 boxes when we moved to NOLA. I feel bad about making my sisters store them, so I decided to sort through them last night. Seriously- I had love notes from my 4th grade boyfriend (ha-ha). I had birthday cards, Christmas cards, the spiral notebook my BFF and I used in high school to pass notes (were we nuts- what if we lost the thing.. hello-all your secrets in one place), and about everything else you can imagine. It was really entertaining. It was like reliving my childhood, teenage years, and NYC experience all at one time. Now- I just have to figure out how to get all of it home to Dallas. Oh- along with 3 boxes of books. I have got to start going to the public library.
so- word to the wise- DO NOT become a Pack Rat. It is nothing but a NIGHTMARE.
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9 comments:
Love this post because I have helped so many family members de-junk and it is soooo frustrating! I try to not be a pack-rat, but your comment about the spiral notebook made me realize I still have stuff like that somewhere. Eeeek. I feel a fall de-junking session of my own coming on. You are awesome to come into town to help them out- priceless!
I love your outlook on junk. Hopefully your parents aren't too offended by your label of them. :) Honestly we all collect some sort of junk and it does seem to multiply when you try and put it all in a box. I dread that in a few years.
I can't imagine sorting through 36 years of stuff. My family has had to move so many times that my parents never hung onto lots of little things. Now that they've lived here for 7 years they may have "nested" a bit more than they were able to in the past, but most of the stuff in their storage room is from me and my sisters. Oops.
Noted! I am a sentimental fool and tend to hold onto things much longer than I should. I also have a stack of Martha Stewarts ... why?! I won't be making that in my lifetime either! Would LOVE to see some of those 4th grade love notes! I bet your parents appreciated all your help. What a HUGE project. Good luck to them! Good luck to you!
AMEN SISTER!!! I tell you I now know why I am the way I am. I am the complete opposite, as you know. I clean up way too much, I am always dumping things.
I enjoyed the time we got to spend, even if it was amongst dirt, clutter, and choas.
Duly noted. I have moved a lot, and moving always makes you re-evaluate what is worth keeping. But I do tend to hold on to stuff, I can't imagine the kind of junk I'd have laying around if I hadn't had to move so many times!
I finally ditched about 5 boxes of magazines last summer. I haven't missed them a bit!
I know, I know. I am such a packrat and I keep saying that I am going to streamline, and well...
I use to hold onto things, but I'm slowly letting go of it. Of course I keep the most important junk.
Very cool that you helped your family out in that way. It must have been sort of cool to go through all the old junk. Walk down memory lane eh? I love rediscovering in that way.
So, I don't know you but I found your blog through a friends. I was laughing because I helped my parents do the same thing last year. In fact I blogged about it as well. However, I still tend to be a packrat!
We got rid of lots of junk as well, but I have to admit I kept the love letters. My Mom had done the same thing and I remember reading them together while I was growing up. It makes for some fun stories to share with your family!
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