My household and I have reached the age and stage where disposal trumps acquisitions. In short, we need to get rid of stuff. Friday the disposal bug struck with gusto. I cleared out three bankers boxes. The contents of two of them I dispatched to the Salvation Army along with three pairs of gently used shoes and a collection teddy bears. The third box was full of business papers from 1989 through 2001. I fed them to the shredder and they are now ready for recycling. Good job, eh?
The man even got involved. Out of the attic came the patio furniture. A bistro table for two with chairs, umbrella, and outdoor carpet had been made redundant by the addition of the sunroom which now encloses the deck. Before noon on Saturday, these heavyweights were at the end of the driveway for "Curbside Giveaway." There they sat for all of two hours before being picked up for adoption into a new home. Score! FreeCycling works!
I then decided to tackle the hall closet. I knew this was dangerous. I knew the treasures that lay within but buoyed by success, I dared to pull open the bi-fold doors. My pupils dilated, my heart raced, and my fingers twitched at the sight before me - a luminous tower of jigsaw puzzles. London, New York, and Venice, trains, boats, and island houses, antique tools, toys, and more. Oh my!
My thumb and fingers rubbed together in memory of the soft click as a puzzle piece finds its place in the whole. I warmed to the thought of bringing order and beauty out of a jumble of cardboard. And I sighed in tribute to the triumph of pressing that final piece into place. It is as close to perfection as it gets.
I turned away from the tower of temptation, trying to force my attention to the other side of the closet, the one stacked with thirty+ year-old children's toys and games. But alas I cast a glance back to my left. Only for a moment, I swear! Long enough to see a bright orange jack-o-lantern wink at me.
'All Hallow's Eve' levitated into my hands and my feet carried the box and me to the dining room table.
As I was transported away from the closet, I swear I heard sighs of relief punctuated by a few cackles of victory coming from behind those mahogany bi-fold doors...
I'll ponder that a bit while I'm sitting at the dining room table this week piecing together jack-o-lanterns, witches, ghosts and ghouls.
I'll ponder that a bit while I'm sitting at the dining room table this week piecing together jack-o-lanterns, witches, ghosts and ghouls.
©2018 April Hoeller
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