My life changed dramatically and forever when I lost TJ.

I welcome you to follow along as I adjust to my "new normal".

It is not all puppies and ice cream but it is my life....real and honest.


Friday, November 27, 2009

Are You A Pack Rat?

If you are one of those that answer yes to the above question then I plead with you to make the following New Year's Resolutions. Also, if you answered no but people have told you that you are then these resolutions are for you too.

1. STOP, STOP IT NOW!!!

2. Go through all the stuff you have accumulated and have a giant yard sell, give to charity, anything......just get rid of the stuff you no longer need.

With TJ gone I now have the burden of going through all of the stuff he/we accumulated over the past 16 years. I like to think that I am not a pack rat but I of course have too much stuff too, it just happens to be different stuff than what TJ saved. You know, girlie stuff ..... shoes .... clothes .... jewelry, etc. All of which the excess will be in the yard sale or going to charity. TJ's stuff on the other hand is almost overwhelming to me. These pictures are what the garage looked like after bringing all the boxes down out of the attic.


Tell me.......where the heck do you start when it looks like that!!!! Well, what I did was just dig in and hit it hard. I pretty much got it done today but I worked at it all day and I am exhausted. I threw away so much stuff it was unbelievable. Some stuff I put in boxes to ship to his Father and Sister and some stuff in boxes to ship to his kids. I probably have 4 to 6 boxes to ship. I hope to get them packed properly over the weekend and ship at least some of them next week. This is going to cost me a fortune in shipping so I don't think I will do it all at once.

Moral of the story? Someone, be it your spouse, significant other, parents or your kids will have to sort through all your stuff when you are gone, so try to make it as easy on them as possible.

4 comments:

  1. I hope your message reaches those who need to hear it, Sandy. I've moved too many times to accumulate "stuff". And I live in a very small house so don't have room for what I don't regularly use. Well done, on your sort out - looks like a big job!

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  2. Looks like an incredible job, and I'm positive all of the people getting a shipment will really appreciate the thought that went into packing it up and sending them. I'm glad you are doing ok, and hope the days get a little better.

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  3. when my friend Luisa died in August I spent 7 days washing everything in her drawers and closets and putting it all in bags for the women's crisis center - there is no way we realize how much 'stuff' we collect. whenever I buy for the next season I try to give away the same number of items - but by the way my drawers are starting to over flow I imagine I am falling behind in the effort.
    hugs and kisses to you from Brasil.

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  4. Sandy, I think this message is meant for me. I don't consider myself a pack rat but my husband says I am. I know I have way too much stuff. I really don't know where it all came from but I have been working on de-cluttering. It can be quite overwhelming.

    I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving visiting friends and I hope the days are getting a little easier.

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