So I'm cleaning, right? finally. And I discover all of these stupid things that I hold on to for no reason. I'm always afraid I'm one of those "hoarders" that they show on Oprah - where they open the closet and it's full of old shrinky dinks, used Q tips, and stickers with "jesus shaves" on them. And maybe receipts, too - but that's just good planning for your IRS audit. I think I am one of those people to a different degree. Hoarders hang onto things in case they need them in the future. I remember one 20/20 where they worked to get this hoarder to stop hoarding. They went through all the stuff in the garage and the lady nearly spontaneously combusted when asked to throw something out. It was a lot of pacing, and "aww... ehhh.... awww... ermmmmm" and forehead kneading and head shaking over a small sticker.
"But what if someone needs this next year?"
That sounds preposterous, doesnt it? But I SWEAR I do it. I just found ear buds from my latest flight on Delta Song. Why would I keep those? A memory? In case I need them? I found my credentials from a business trip. Why do I hang onto that? Usually I say I keep things so that when I have kids I can show them what mommy did. But will they be impressed by nerd conference credentials? Or ear buds? Or for the love of god, a matchbook? I pack this stuff away and clutter my room with it to the point that I'm overwhelmed by receipts... and my latest thing is collecting credit card offers with super low percentage rates... with the intent to call and transfer balances... but I never do it - so they pile up.. I have christmas cards, just because cards, vday cards, birthday cards, invitations. I keep them because I actually feel like I'm hurting someones' feelings when I throw them out. I look at them and I think it's a person's thought or heart on paper, I can't throw it out. I save EVERYTHING the boy gives to me (even those herpes!)(kidding!) and now I have this ratty old shrine. I need to go to bed bath and beyond or Pier 1 and get some sort of sparkly box to put all my love stuff in and get rid of the old stuff.
But I don't want to not have a record of the way I talked and cooresponded with other people when I'm 60. I want to see that it's OK and not insane for my kids to have dirty jokes and dramatic love.. I really think you forget this stuff as you get older, so I never want to forget. See! I always have an excuse for why I hang onto things... and it's so silly. I need to just suck it up and throw this stuff away and make room for my freakin shoes and my life. But AUGH! I don't want to lose the memories.
