It’s time to let go of photographs, 226/365

     That’s not really true. As I mentioned a few days ago, NO it’s not time to let go of family photographs. Today, however, it was time to organize the albums on the shelf and while doing so to let go of a few books and notebooks. What you see in the photo is a half-filled garbage bag, a half-filled grocery bag with books to go to the put-and-take, and some piles of books to get ride of or to read. It may not look like progress to you, but it feels like progress to me. With the organization I’ve just completed, I might be ready to go through the albums and get rid of duplicate pictures.  

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.