For those of you who know me personally, you’ll attest to the fact that I am not a big consumer. I rarely buy anything at all and when I do, I make sure I need it for life and that it will last for life. If I can find that 2nd hand, even better. If I can’t meet those criteria I rent or borrow. In cleaning out my parent’s estate my siblings and I are faced with the decision, do we see this stuff go to a thrift shop, or do we suck it up and start loading it into our homes? None of us want to see my parent’s belongings discarded or cherished less than my parents cherished them, so we’ve been doing a lot of accommodating in our own homes.
As an environmentalist, I have been approaching the decisions like this: If there is a chance I’m going to buy one of ‘these’ (insert any type of item, anything from delicate embroidered doilies my Grandma made to gig wear my Mom made to hitch balls in the garage) then I pack it up and take it. What I like about their stuff in general is, unlike the choices available to us today, most if not all of it was made on North American soil and if it’s imported that’s because it came from an area that specializes in crystal, fabrics, etc. I may never need to enter a store again, and that would be ok with me.
I can safely say I no longer have room for ANYTHING else in my home. I am fancy china rich; I could have a dinner party for about 50 people and not have to rent dishes! LOL! The likelihood of this happening is pretty remote, but I’m prepared!!
All in all, it’s been hard work, and rewarding work, and it’s been especially nice to be doing it with siblings who are only sharing fond memories and not bickering over things.
At some point we will be driving away from that house for good, and that perhaps will be the final difficult moment for us as we navigate life on this planet without these two people who gave us life here.
I’m wishing you a week filled with delightful treasures.