So, we got a new-used sofa this weekend. Between putting the finishing touches on the production schedule for our first shoot date of the Somebody’s Basement Sketch Comedy Troupe, writing my column for the week, prepping tomorrow’s podcast, and finalizing deal memos for the short film I’m casting for Comedy Central right now, I got to reorganize (color-organized bookcases! Ack! So cool), clean, and purge some clutter.
And then we ran across the bin of tapes. It’s a clear plastic bin with mini-DV tapes, one VHS cassette, and a dozen or so audio cassette tapes, all still in their shrinkwrap.
Keith asked how I ever ended up with so many audio tapes.
My mother.
She recorded her voice for thousands of clients worldwide over the course of the last 25 years of her life. And when she passed away in December 2000, my beloved stepdad asked me to take her unused tapes with me, because he’d never use them.
And even though the crying jag didn’t last long, I have to admit, I wept over letting Keith toss these tapes out. Yeah, we live in a place where folks step through the alley and grab the things we put out in a trash-adjacent area for them to use, fix up, eat, or sell for some food money. So, I know they’ll be gone in a few minutes and well-loved for whatever they provide whomever comes across ’em first.
But I wept for how well-loved they were by me… because they represented something my momma did every day that I can remember.
I know from my decluttering experience with Brooks Palmer just over a year ago that I am making space for something far more valuable. And this weekend has included quite a bit of that. I’m glad.
It’s just stuff. It’s just stuff. It’s just stuff.
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I feel your pain. You are very brave. I have a box of my mom’s clothing in my closet — don’t have the guts to do what you did. Hugs xoxo
Not sure if I would be able to do it with clothing. Pretty sure I have at least a box of her things like that in storage. : But eventually, even that stuff has to go, as it is just STUFF, and none of it keeps her closer. *sigh* It’s tough, though.
Thanks for the hugs, Laura. XO
My mom passed when I was 27. The youngest of 5, I was inexplicably tasked with clearing out her house. I had a yard sale for things like the zillions of wire hangers she had collected, but when it came to her clothes – well, that was very personal. I decided to “bequeath” them to a friend’s mother who didn’t have much of anything. It felt good to do so and I know my mother was pleased with my decision!
P.S. XOXO to you, Laura, and other daughters of moms gone too soon!
Thanks, Jordan. I was 30 when momma died. Youngest. Only daughter. Very similar in how much of it was mine to do (especially due to a huge age difference; my brothers are 16 and 18 years older than I am), at least as her belongings were concerned.
I love that you let her clothes go to someone who could use them. That’s just wonderful. Love you all, ladies. “Motherless Daughters” always stick together. It’s a hard adjustment. {{{hugs}}}
Did y’all see this on KCAL 9 news today?
https://www.tynsysmiraclebears.com/about_the_bears.php What a great idea!