Clutter

Bloganuary writing prompt
Where can you reduce clutter in your life?

Sigh. Where do I start?

But let me start from the beginning. I came from a long line of pack rats that kept things, ya know, for just “in case.” When I moved to my little house over 20 years ago, I downsized a lot. I had a garage sale and gave things away. But I still had boxes tucked away after my move. In over twenty years, I am ashamed to say I have never opened those boxes. I meant to, but my busy life kept me from the dark corners of my little basement.

Some of the items were from my daughter’s childhood, things she adamantly stated that “she did not want.” All these years later, she and her daughters are glad that I kept her childhood mementos. So the rest of her things will finally be cleared from my basement storage.

But I also have boxes full of memories that I could not squeeze into my smaller home. Long ago gifts from my childhood; favored toys, cherished items passed down from one mother to the next. Those are the items that tug at my heartstrings. I had planned to divide the items among my granddaughters and my niece, and one day I will.

But did I mention my garage? Oy! Old teaching materials, patio furniture that needs refinishing, an iron bedstand that needs painting, an old lawn mower that needs to be repaired, “new” tiles for my kitchen and bathroom floors, and the list goes on.

Did I mention my summertime plans? I believe it’s time to have another garage sale!

Photo by Şahin Sezer Dinçer on Unsplash