Today I visited www.storyofstuff.com and watched the video on the front page. I'm not sure that the creators meant for it to have this effect (since I am sending more stuff to the landfill), but I was firmly convinced that I have too much stuff. So I promptly began going through closets, cabinets, etc. and getting rid of STUFF. I pulled a particularly heavy box off the closet shelf (no, I didn't use all the proper lifting techniques. Yes, I will probably be visiting my chiropractor again very soon.) and discovered (or re-discovered) that it contained just about every card and letter I've ever received in my life. Dozens and dozens of letters from pen-pals that I don't even remember being pen-pals with; letters from friends who are now married and have children (they would be rather embarrassed to see those letters now); lots of fancy envelopes decorated with gel pen doodles and shiny stickers. Mixed in with all those letters was a single sheet of college-ruled paper, every line filled with incredibly messy handwriting. It was a letter from me--I don't know why it didn't make it into the mailbox. It went something like: "Dear -------, How are you? I am fine. How are your animals? Mine are fine. How is your family? Mine is fine. What is your favorite subject? Mine is math and P.E. What have you been doing? I have been playing outside. I got to go. Write back soon." It's a good thing it didn't get sent. That is the most boring letter I have read in my life! I have no idea why anyone would have been pen-pals with me!!! And yet, there they are--in that box--hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of letters. Most of them end with "P.S. You are my best friend." That's nice, but where are all these people now?
On another note, I took Shannon for a ride in the country. I put the windows down and took the top off the Del Sol so we could get a nice breeze. She didn't seem to appreciate the view--or getting windblown. In fact, within about 5 minutes she was curled up in the seat - asleep. So much for that. :)
Anyway, back to my "spring cleaning."
Thursday, June 5, 2008
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1 comments:
LOL Leah.
What a pack rat! I am a chucker-outer, I throw out everything that isn't either essential or nailed down; and regularly have "spring cleans" when I get rid of even more stuff.
Moving house helps- and we moved house three times in five yrs.
But there prob isn't any cure, grin, I think one is born a hoarder (some of my children are like that, and my dh has that tendency) or a chucker outer - and I've been like that since I left home at 17.
I'd hate to think that anyone is hoarding all the letters I wrote or received.
The letter you quoted made me laugh - my dc get those letters sometimes and write even boringer (?) ones back.
I think MSN etc helps children connect more that old fashioned letter writing did.
It's fun to keep reading your blog Leah.
Love
H
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