I love the dump, er, transfer station. I love to stand at the edge of the pit and heave my crap into the steaming hole while the man in the caged-topped bulldozer smashes and compacts everyone’s “junk” into a giant cube that is carted away in a truck to “that place” we don’t like to think about. I love that moment when the last piece of your mind is swept from the bed of the truck. Ahhh…..freedom.
I love to donate clothes I’ll never fit into again (some with tags still on), souvenir shot glasses from obscure places like Fargo, North Dakota, coffee mugs with funny sayings, that framed picture of the Grand Canyon, that old bookcase that will look great in some college kid’s dorm. I like to think someone will go crazy for that Star Trek lunch box WITH the thermos still intact. Not to mention the home brew kit with all the parts and owner’s manual.
Where do we get all this stuff? Did it mean something to us at one time? When did we fall out of love with this stuff?
I have too much stuff.
Today I ran across a picture of my mom in a bag of framed photos. When my mom died, besides a few clothes and pieces of costume jewelry, the only other thing she owned were these photos. Because of some unfortunate relationship choices she had nothing. At the time that seemed tragic to me. Not because I wanted any of her “stuff” but because it seemed (or so I thought) that she was without. Without stuff.
Now I get it. That’s how we should all leave this world. Not with a house full of stuff that someone has to go through, fight over, or haggle with strangers at an estate sale. We should die with our pictures and our memories.
LA was burning last week. One person that had to flee their house said “All I was able to grab were my pictures.” And your life. Isn’t that all we need?
I think I’m going to pack for this move like my house is on fire. Memories and pictures.
Oh, and my books, and music and that couch, and okay, my sleigh bed….and coffee pot……and that cool lamp…………….
In loving memory of mom. I miss you.
11 comments
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October 21, 2008 at 8:49 am
Cece
You just KNOW I had to comment on this one. As someone who moved with – literally – only a 5 x 8 U-Haul trailer, Jeep Grand Cherokee which was already half full of people and pets, and a rooftop carrier, having no “stuff” is so liberating. We took kitchen stuff, stereo/home theater stuff, books, a small amount of clothes, and pictures, but nothing else. Of course when you arrive to your destination, you begin accumulating, but it’s the necessities at first, not “stuff”, so you can control your intake. It’s a strange but good feeling. Now the real challenge begins of keeping the “stuff” away.
I do HATE moving with such a passion that I will do everything possible to keep stuff away and out of our lives.
October 21, 2008 at 9:05 am
Denise Wymore
Cece,
Looks like Mark and I might be driving our truck (with more stuff) through Arizona in mid-November. I’ll keep you posted but we’re counting on meeting up with you and yours in YOUR desert dream home.
Peace out,
Gotta go move more boxes of stuff….
D.
October 21, 2008 at 9:11 am
Dwight Johnston
I totally get your feelings on stuff. My wife is great at getting rid of excess stuff, except when it comes to 25-year old “art” projects of our girls. Still stuff happens and accumulates. I will say this though, the dark side of Dwight still wants to die with lots of stuff called money.
October 21, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Julee
What do you mean, your Star Trek lunch box?????????????
October 21, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Denise Wymore
DJ – I will make sure your coffin is lined with crisp dollar bills. Of course they won’t be worth anything……by then corn will be our currency.
Julee – I know. I should’ve sold it on E-Bay right?
October 22, 2008 at 5:20 pm
CU Communicator
Love this post Denise. One of your finest IMHO, and certainly my favorite.
A friend of mine who is also moving right now has let go of a lot of furniture that was in his family for generations over the past few weeks. He told me about the process of thinking – really thinking – about why he felt a need to hang on to it.
For him, it wasn’t so much sentimentality that made him hang on to it – it was the obligation he felt.
In the end, he decided that he didn’t need or really want the furniture. So he contacted family members and found out that they didn’t want it either.
And so he gave it away to friends he knew that needed it for one reason or another. And doing so made him feel free.
Good luck with moving! Mom would be proud.
October 23, 2008 at 6:03 am
Denise Wymore
CU Communicator,
Thanks for your comment. What a perfect word for why we pass on stuff from generation to generation – obligation. You should pass on stories, history, memories – not china cabinets.
Sounds like your friend found a good home for his family’s stuff.
Cheers!
D.
October 29, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Mike Bartoo
As soon as I see the word “stuff”, I’m immediately reminded of George Carlin’s bit (may he rest in peace) about why your stuff is stuff and my stuff is s–t! Go to YouTube and look for his “A Place for my Stuff”
October 29, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Denise Wymore
Mike,
I was paying homage to George Carlin. I LOVE his stuff routine. I didn’t think anyone would get that! Thanks for playing…
D.
October 30, 2008 at 9:58 am
Mike Bartoo
Denise,
Even if we’ve only had one adult beverage or so in Roanoke, I still didn’t expect you to underestimate me. Happy to be a part of it all!
Mike
November 5, 2008 at 7:23 am
Nicolle
I have seen Denise stuff and most of it is fabulous. I would imagine a shopping frenzy at her local Goodwill. I also knew Denise’s mom very well, and she would be so proud of her daughter. We love you…