The Purge

The great purge of 2008 is in full swing. My house is a mess, I don't know where to turn to where there isn't a box, garbage bag or a bag of stuff going to charity. I can't believe how much stuff we have, and by stuff I mean garbage. My mom was a big time pack rat and so is Shawn.

My mom was the truly a product of her generation. You don't throw anything out if it was still usable because you might need it, one day, maybe in twenty years from now. Mom was born just prior to the start of the Spanish Civil War then grew up in a fascist regime that did not favour those that didn't have a lot of money. Shew grew up not having a lot and having to scrimp and save when there was something "big" that she wanted to purchase, like a radio. My mom's room was stuffed to the brim. I didn't know it was possible to put so much stuff in one room. She kept everything well hidden from me in her huge furniture. It took me three days just to get everything cleaned out. It wasn't as bad cleaning it out as I thought it would be. I think I built it up in my head that it would be worse than it actually was. There were some things I found that made me stop and have to catch my breath, her nightgown from that night, her glasses and her wedding gloves. I didn't realize that she still had them. I wish I'd known, I would've worn them on my own wedding day.

Shawn isn't too much better. His parents were pack rats and they passed that down to him. He's now learned, from having to go through all his wires, spare computer parts, papers and other knick knacks, that he doesn't need any of it. We spent the day yesterday in our computer room and purged the whole room, old bills are gone, ready to be shredded, a ton of stuff is going to charity, recycling or the dump.

We've taken an oath from this point on. If we don't really need it, haven't used it or it's taking up space, it's going out the door or better yet, not in at all.

Now, I need to get back to my packing.