I have been trying to clear out and organize my art supplies to prepare for a rather large order of jewelry supplies arriving from Rio Grande this week. Ugh.
In our current home, we do not have as much storage space as we once had, so quite a few things are stored in plastic boxes, tool boxes, or cardboard boxes. Over the years, I have accumulated a lot of art and jewelry supplies and sorting through them is a lot of work.
As I unpacked boxes, I have discovered so many ‘treasures’ I have held onto. I fear I am a sentimental old fool. My children chuckle as I still hang their grade school Christmas ornaments on the tree every year. I am at a crossroads in my life – what to keep and what to let go of.
Useful items and knickknacks I purchased myself are easy to let go of. Things given to me, not so much.
The little teacup with roses inside given to my mother when she was in the hospital, a little glass dish that held a small flower arrangement given to me by my mother-in-law, the decorative oriental plates given to me by my friend MaryKay when I lived in Alaska. People I love, gone but not forgotten.
Hubby and I both collected ‘things’ prior to and in the early years of our marriage. He, David Winter cottages, porcelain owls, and duck stamp prints. Me, Cobalt blue glass, poison bottles, and perfume bottles. They are all packed away now. Together we have collected original Pléin air paintings and Dept 56 Village pieces.
I learned from my children the items that hold memories for me (pieces of each of my grandmother’s china, my mother’s goblets given to her on her wedding day) have no significance to them other than knowing where they come from. Their memories lie in the everyday items that we all shared together.
Over the coming months, I will start letting a lot of things go. I will start with the truly whimsical tchotchke-like things that I purchased myself. The sentimental things like collectibles from European trips perhaps I will pack away neatly and designate a grandchild I would like to receive these things.
This is not easy for either hubby or me, It’s time though.
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