It’s time to go, family photos, 225/365. NO, it’s not!

 It is hard to let go of family photographs. To some extent it’s an age issue, because really, who prints out photographs these days? Before we know it, getting rid of photos will happen almost solely by clicking ‘delete’. Hopefully, however, memories will give us pause when clearing out our iPhone or iPhotos.

     So here are our photo albums, a few from my childhood, most from our fifty years of parenthood. Of course, I could scan them into iPhotos!

    It just may be that getting rid of family photos remains in a category all by itself. Why should we even be expected to get rid of pictures of ourselves, our friends and families, or our specific life experiences.

      When I started this project, I thought that best I could do was box the photos and leave all decisions to future generations. But, no, I can’t even do that. The albums need to be left on the shelf for now. After all, I never know when I’ll need a picturesque memory.

It’s time to go, completed jigsaw puzzles, 224/365

      I don’t hoard jigsaw puzzle but I’m continually letting go of them. I let go as I complete them, which happens all the time because I always have one spread out on the dining room table, and I am at it every day.

      

Working on a jigsaw puzzle helps me let go thoughts and chatter that clutters my head, as I concentrate an that one little piece in my hand.

     I get puzzles at the put-and-take, yard sales and church fairs, from friends and as gifts. I hardly every buy one full price.

    The puzzles in the stack shown here are ready to be put together. When completed, out they will go.

It’s time to go, family memorabilia, 223/365

 I can do this. I can get rid of something at least every other day.   

    Today I put family memorabilia in a box, labeled it, and took it to the barn. I understand that it is hard to discard the champagne glasses that we raised to celebrate Jim’s parents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary, or the glasses celebrating the 1989 alumnae-guest golf tournament at Williams These are things Jim isn’t ready to get rid of, but for my purposes, I out of sight, out of mind. Good enough for me.

It's time to go, glass ice cream dishes, 222/365

I started this blog years seven ago, and every once in a while I resurrect it. Now is my latest one-in-a-while times.

     A year ago we decided we were going to move from this old house where we had lived for forty years. We boxed stuff to store, we got rid of stuff, and we had the downstairs painted. Then we decided we wanted to stay here and enjoy the de-cluttered shelves, the clean white walls, and the yard.    

    A year later we are still enjoying that decision but we are also aware that once we can’t go up and down the stairs we will have to move. There is NO way to create a bedroom (or a shower) on the ground floor.

     So, I am purging again. How many glass ice cream dishes do we really need? Not the ones I’ve wrapped, bagged, and put in the car ready to be taken to Good Will.