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The family genes
(by Jennifer Botkin Phillips - July 09, 2008)
Paring down my possessions usually presents the overwhelming challenge of what to keep and what to toss. I don’t know if it’s because I inherited the “impossible to throw things out” gene, or it’s the old adage like mother, like daughter. Perhaps, it’s a combination of the two.
Because, since my mother’s passing a year ago this month, I’ve started considering the task my three daughters will one day face. Not that I’m expecting to depart this world any time soon; I just hope that I finish sorting through and paring down the stuff I’ve kept going back to my first prom, before God plucks me from the planet earth.
What got this ball rolling was learning from my niece, Merri Elizabeth, who is currently storing some of my mother’s things, the contents of some of her personal possessions.
“Aunt Jen, Grandma saved all her sorority paraphernalia as well as all her trip stuff including luggage tickets from her travels to Australia,” Merri Elizabeth had told me.
Oh, dear. Mom’s destinations included Europe, Alaska, and . I could envision little bags of mementos from all of her stops. What would my sister and me do with these things? But, wait. This is sounding uncannily familiar. For, right in the bottom drawer of my filing cabinet, way in the back in the very last folder the tab reads,
Caribbean Cruise, March 1986! Resisting impulses is not exactly my strong suit so, of course, I had to open the drawer, dig through the folders, and open up my own trip folder.
Hum… I believe I’m seeing some similarities here.
Bursting out from the folder as I laid it on top of my desk were things like the room tag with my Stateroom number on it, a 20 cent Bahamas stamp in an envelope, a map of the West Indies postcard, a bigger postcard of my sailing ship; the SS Rotterdam (Holland America), an unused shoe shine mitt, the invitation from the captain for cocktails in the Sky Room, Bridge Deck, plastic bags from purchases in St. Thomas, stationery from the ship, travel brochures and other remembrances from 22 years ago.
So, I did what I’ve done every other time I’ve pulled out my trip folder. I promptly put it back and moved onto my next project. My closet. Maybe I’ll have more luck there.
Standing in from of my closet with the doors wide open, my eyes scanned the mass of clothing stuffed together without even an inch of space. At one end, jeans of every style were clustered together. At the other end an array of white shirts were lined up. In between a hodge-podge of clothing hung; skirts, tops, and this and that much of which I’d had for years and years and never wore. Looking at the closet full of clothes amazed me as I can quite easily groan with the familiar refrain to anyone who will listen, “But I have nothing to wear!”
My intention was to remove any remaining winter clothing and refill the newly created space with my summer clothing. Though I hadn’t had success with the travel folder, I was sure I would make progress with my closet.
Jamie Novak, resident organizing expert for NBC’s iVillage (jamienovak.com) says, “Paring down to just what you use and love,” is a way to begin. By keeping that thought in mind, I realized that I really didn’t need every single piece of clothing I had ever owned. I not only filled three bags worth of clothing to recycle, I now had a measure of open space in my closet. Ah, breathing room!
If I’m going to continue to make progress and leave my life somewhat uncluttered for my girls (of every little thing I own), I’ll have to keep that motto in mind. Because, the old adage is surprisingly true. I see my mom in myself and I don’t even have to look in the mirror.
Until next time… Top Blonde… on the run.
| Comments (1) |
On July 24, 2008 Cheryl said:
It's funny how we women all seem to get to this "paring down" stage of our life one we pass 55-60. I'm working on this myself. |
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