We have moved into high gear. Today three “packers” came to help us get ready to send all our furniture, knick knacks, and curios to the auctioneer this Friday. When they left, Earl said, “That was a brilliant idea. We could never have gotten this done by ourselves.”
I agree. First of all, when you’re boxing your own things there’s a tendency to recall how you acquired them, who gave them to you, why they’re important. The Father’s Day cards Earl received from his children and had framed fifteen years ago evoke such memories to him, but not to objective packers. The charming tea set I inherited from a father I never really knew makes me equally sentimental. Sendng them to auction becomes easier when you don’t dwell on the significance involved. When you’re not the one packing the items up. So, saying quickly, “That goes to auction” and then moving on works this time.
The other thing I’ve learned is that neither Earl nor I have the stamina we had for this sort of thing when we moved into our current home. We also have more possessions, having emptied both his and my parents’ homes and not really divesting ourselves of their treasures. Instead we dragged them home. In truth, our current residence has become a huge repository not only for our own memories, but also for our deceased parents’. I’ve determined that this move is one where we do not bring everyone else’s souvenirs along.
It’s a lot of hard work, but it feels great. And the packers are returning tomorrow and the next night to get the job done. When we pass on, I’m hoping our own children will thank us for it.
Leave a Reply