Out With the Old

It’s almost a new year…time for out with the old, in with the new, and resolutions to eat healthier, exercise, and take care of ourselves. Or, if you’re like me, you’ve about given upon resolutions.

But there is something to be said for out with the old. I’ve been meaning to clean out drawers and closets for weeks…maybe now is the time. When we got ready to go to Colorado earlier this month, I got down a tub of winter clothes I had packed up…and it wasn’t last winter I’m sure. Not much of it is useful for Jimmy any more.

We also broke a wheel on the suitcase when we traveled, so it’s time to retire that suitcase. And, the other one that no longer has a pull handle. I said we were going to fill them with clothes and take them to the thrift store…that hasn’t happened yet, but then, there’s always tomorrow,

Jimmy and I are both packrats. It is awful. It makes for very cluttered spaces. I actually got him to clean off his “stack” of mail next to where he sits, and it was amazing. Now, I have a few “stacks” that need attending. I would welcome suggestions from you organized folks about how to get rid of stuff. ‘

I’ve got clothes in my closet I haven’t worn in years…why do I keep them?

I’ve read you should go through your stuff and decide what to keep what to trash and what to give away. I can do it for about 10 minutes, then I get sentimental and want to keep everything.

I try to make sure I get rid of a clothing item every time I add one, but it doesn’t always happen.

So now you know one of my downfalls. You should see my Christmas tree. Ornaments galore. There’s a history to each one. Every year, I say I’m going to start early and take some unused Christmas stuff to the thrift store. That hasn’t happened yet either.

Do y’all use the thrift store like I do? It’s a great resource for the community. And, I take them everything. They’ll throw away what I was too attached to. They’ll recycle clothes and sell them by the pound, if they aren’t suitable to put out for sale to individuals who come shopping. And I do go shopping there sometimes. It’s a great selection and they take care with what they put out to sell.

Looking in the window, you would never realize it’s a thrift store, The windows are decorated so nicely they could belong to any number of retail businesses. I hope they stay there at least until I clean out my closets.

Emily (my youngest) was here in August, and helped me find the floor in our back room. The room was an office but has morphed into a junk room. Now mind you, it’s not really junk. That’s where the wrapping paper is, and the file cabinet for what gets filed (not much these days). It’s where I lay clothes flat to dry, and it’s where stuff gets stashed when you don’t know what to do with it, or just need to get it out of the main living quarters. You know, like suitcases…good and not so good.

Emily is not a pack rat, and somehow she can talk me into getting rid of more stuff than anyone else can. She’s here now…maybe we’ll tackle a closet.

Speaking of laying clothes flat to dry, I have had to re-learn a lifelong habit. I’ve always turned my clothes right side out upon taking them off. Now, it seems every time I turn around the garment needs to be washed inside out. So, I’m learning just to take them off that way and save myself turning them that way. I understand the concept, but I’ve spent my life keeping my clothes right-side-out.

That’s about all my musings for today. I’m writing this before Christmas for publication afterwards and it’s not my best work. Stick with me, some weeks will be better:-)