Slice of Life # 22 - March 22, 2011Books and articles can be found often today about cleaning out the clutter. The web site e-how contains tip after tip for getting rid of “stuff”: tips to reduce, organize, feng shui, clear, and clean your clutter. So do About.com, and a myriad of other help sites on the Internet. There are lists of books on Amazon.com that offer the same kind of help, even more detailed, entering the psychological motivation of saving stuff. And if you still haven’t been convinced to engage in a battle with your belongings, just watch the TV show Hoarders, a true-life lesson in what may happen if you don’t start the fight now!
My husband and I have lived in our current home since the 1970’s. We both accumulate things and like lots of stuff, but we are organized and are not over the top yet. We take items to second-hand stores, I routinely give away books to my colleagues at school, and we have given quite a few things to our children. Yet, we have so much more to do. We are finding homes for things we no longer find useful or needed. My husband did a lot of beadwork earlier in his life, but he hasn’t for years, and he would like to find a person who would use and enjoy the materials. And-my mother was a knitter. I have saved her knitting basket, with yarn and needles, hoping that someday I would learn to knit. I don’t think it’s going to happen. When I spend time sitting, I’m always going to be reading or writing.
This is quite a long introduction to my point. Although we have a goal of cleaning out the clutter, keeping only those things that are meaningful to us, I want to emphasize that we are never going to give away the LL Bean, ragg wool cardigan that hangs in the back hall. It’s old, has holes in the elbows, but it still zips and is very very warm. Everyone in the family, as well as guests, has worn it at one time or another. Sometimes people fight over it. My grandson has grown old enough to wear it. There are things that mean something because they’re valuable in dollars, and there are things that are valuable because they create a thread of memory. My children come for a visit, say “there’s the sweater” and somehow feel comforted that although there are new cabinets in the kitchen, the house is a different color, and a new car is in the driveway, the sweater remains—a comforting and ‘warm’ memory of their past.
I enjoyed the contrast between a freshly painted house and a tattered sweater. I get shivers when I read the line about how the sweater creates, "a thread of memory." I can smell the woolen yarn now.
ReplyDeleteHappy Slicing,
Erin
Now you've made me think of what will I never part with in my life! I know what you mean by stuff. Stuff is becoming to mean less and less. I don't buy "stuff" anymore. I'd rather buy for others. A simple a thing as a sweater can hold all kinds of memories. I will think on this. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI like that sweater and the idea that we assign value to things we associate with memories. It is such a human thing - is this why we do archeology and have the Smithsonian?
ReplyDeleteI love this. It reminds me of my dad's shoes. They sit by the door, are ragged and worn..yet some how they manage to fit everyones feet. They are like the traveling pants. I can't imagine them ever being away from the door....just like your sweater.
ReplyDeleteOh, I identify with this piece. I'm the hoarder and my husband pitches everything. We balance each other off, but I might be starting to accumulate too much. I begin to feel burdened. I'm beginning to feel like I have to get rid of things. I see where you have given things to you kids and others. That's what I should do. If my kids don't what it, and I don't need it or it isn't a special memory like your sweater, I need to give it away! Thanks for sharing! Happy slicing! :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful post. I love the sweater. My parents have a sweater from the 70s that hangs by the back door too. My mom just won't get rid of it either and I don't think at this point my sister or I want her to either. We always comment on it. memories. Some things can't be given away. Good luck de-cluttering. I've been at it for the last 3 years. I probably have another year left to go before I'm satisfactorily finished. Minimalistic is my goal. (except for books)
ReplyDelete