In yesterday's blog there was a quote from the Ann Patchett book of essays These Precious Days. It's one of many sent by MJV. The plan is to finish reading it before reading American by Day. That plans turns out to have been a good choice!
Four weeks of rather frantic downsizing cumulated in the Jan. 7, move to the OFH. Purging is not easy nor for the faint of heart. Perhaps that's why many persons avoid it and leave to others upon their demise. Constant decisions need to be made in the process: keep? toss? give away, and if so, to whom? The stress comes because those items have been kept for a reason. Most of the things are connected to some memory or another.
In an essay titled How to Practice, Patchett describes the situation a close friend experienced with the death of the friend's father, who had collected and never purged. Witnessing that scenario prompted Patchett to reflect on her own situation. Married, with step-children but no children of her own, living in a house filled with stuff, who would confront dealing with it all after her death?
She, with the agreement of her husband, began purging. The intitial act of eliminating is difficult. Confronting what had been stashed, the questions of keep? toss? or, give? were daunting. Gradually as the effort picked up steam it became easier. After a woman had taken a number of items Patchett was giving Patchett writes about this exchange "She was thrilled, and I was thrilled for her. It had all changed that fast. The point was no longer making sure the right person got the right things. The point was that those things were gone." P. 70
Yes! That was my experience! "The point was that those things were gone." That's exactly how it felt to me "I don't care where/to whom, it's GONE!
This essay should be read by any who are contemplating or avoiding downsizing. For those who've already begun or done it will affirm their experience.
Takk for alt,
Al
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