Over the years, one tends to .................save..............those valuable memories of the past. The photo's from the beginning of time until the present.............those little momentos one collects to show you have been THERE. Unfortunately, I have several collections and they have all ended up in different spots, my book match collection ended up in cookie tins.....to prevent fire, my menu collection in folders in a filing cabinet, my napkin and silverware collection in paper bags, wine cork collection in a large wicker basket, my drink stirrer collection in my bar along with the empty small bottles of airplane drinks. Photo's in shoe boxes and finally I am presently downloading them onto thumb dives to save them.
I have attempted to sell some old things but without success. I had a pool table since 1977, oh not the real slate kind but still regulation size and made mostly of hardboard. I had all intentions that I would sell it for $25 and put an ad in our neighbor hood watch bulletin, had a lot of interest in it but as soon as people found they had to pick it up, interest was loss. Finally ended up taking the legs off it and just leaning it up against one of the walls to try and save space. It sat there for some 30 years and I then tried to give it away. I learned quite quickly that even Goodwill didn't want to send a truck to pick it up but rather insisted it be dropped off to them. That meant renting a truck, a cost to get rid of it. I was finally convince by my kids to cut it up and put it in the garbage , little by little. Great idea and the chore began...............funny part it that in cutting it up into pieces small enough for the garbage can, I discovered the legs had gone missing. What the hell happened to them? Searched the total basement to no avail. Lucky for me someone didn't rent a truck only to find out when they came to pick it up that it was legless.
Donated a bed with spring and mattress to the homeless association. Still have available filing cabinets, desks, bookcases etc,etc,etc. This basement of mine is about 1600 sq. feet and was once my corporate offices. Two bedrooms turned into office space. Living area turned into relaxing area. One big storage area for product, bathroom and coat closet.
Our two car garage with work area now houses one car and stuff. Where did all this stuff come from? I don't know.............one day it just showed up.
Now, as exaggerated as this picture is, I just wonder how true it is. My kids, both Lisa and Scott along with our two grandson's will inherit all this some day. I keep telling them that a garage sale is in order and they can earn money with it. They, somehow feel, their earnings would be pennies on the dollar. Can it be correct??
Must tell you, that even though it was a chore to get rid of tax statements, bank statements that I had back to the 60's and even some old social security stuff from my mom and dad, that taking this 3 bags at a time (maximum allowed at a singe time) to shredding truck events, it was worth it. Got rid of all that and hopefully will stay rid of it by doing things more efficiently.
Don't leave stuff like this for your kids, If they are anything like mine.............they don't want it, don't need it and certainly will not waste time going through it. I remember doing this on the passing of my mom, when Margot and I had to clean out her house. YOU would never believe what we found......but after a week of going through her stuff, we discovered that she was a collector of small denomination unmarked bills, she hid in band aid cans, aluminum wrap, old tissue, dress hems, old magazines and what ever else that was within hands reach. When leaving NYC I felt like a bag man heading to Vegas. In one cigar box was the down payment to our house. This is a threat, that I leave my kids. You must go through EVERYTHING because you don't know what you will end up throwing out. For some reason, it has not yet fazed them with that threat. Wonder why???
Now, it's time for you to look around.................consider something the Swedes do known as "dostadning" a hybrid Swedish word for "death and Cleaning" Google it and read about it .. dostadning will be the hot new trend . Anyway, it's quite interesting and will help you to clean up the mess no one else wants to do. (Swedish death cleaning)
Stay Safe and get ready for a new posting
