A few years ago, when I was packing up to move to LA, land of no clouds and overly happy people, I realized I had too much stuff. I decided to deal with it. I held up each item, asking myself, “If this went in a flood, would you cry?” If the answer was no, I got rid of it. If it was yes, I put it in a pile for further consideration later. I was uncomfortable with all the things I have carted around for years and years. They haven’t any use to me, have no sentimental value, and take up space that I do not need or use. And, because my apartment in LA was substantially smaller than my house in the Hamptons, I had the dilemma of expensive storage or carting it across the land.
What you wrote about the way your mother-in-law's stuff was dispersed reminded me of that horrific scene in "Zorba The Greek", the rapacious confiscation of the old woman's beloved treasures. That scene devastated me and made me decide now as I am in the last few decades of my life to do what you have done. It feels wonderful to look around my small home and see things I have loved all my life and take the time to really SEE them, the way Donald Sutherland's character looks at his favorite paintings in "The Undoing". And if it's hard to let something go, I take a photo or a video of it to trigger the happy memory it invokes.
When I moved to my smaller, hopefully forever, home theee years ago.. the process was similar for me. Over 700 hard copy books and family memorabilia in excess. I threw a party and we watched 14 Kodak carousels of generations of memories. Had a great time laughing, crying and identifying and then they were gone..forever. I sometimes want to kick myself for being so heartless but I did not want to store them along with the projector any longer. The dumpster was fed every diploma, award and certificate I ever earned. It actually was soul cleansing..
What you wrote about the way your mother-in-law's stuff was dispersed reminded me of that horrific scene in "Zorba The Greek", the rapacious confiscation of the old woman's beloved treasures. That scene devastated me and made me decide now as I am in the last few decades of my life to do what you have done. It feels wonderful to look around my small home and see things I have loved all my life and take the time to really SEE them, the way Donald Sutherland's character looks at his favorite paintings in "The Undoing". And if it's hard to let something go, I take a photo or a video of it to trigger the happy memory it invokes.
When I moved to my smaller, hopefully forever, home theee years ago.. the process was similar for me. Over 700 hard copy books and family memorabilia in excess. I threw a party and we watched 14 Kodak carousels of generations of memories. Had a great time laughing, crying and identifying and then they were gone..forever. I sometimes want to kick myself for being so heartless but I did not want to store them along with the projector any longer. The dumpster was fed every diploma, award and certificate I ever earned. It actually was soul cleansing..