I'm trying to put away Christmas. I love Christmas: the sounds, the smells, the sights, and rediscovering old friends in the forms of ornaments and candlerings, and stockings.
Putting it away is another matter.
All 15 bins are out, lids off most of them, as I go through and see what I DIDN'T put out this year and what I REALLY want to keep and what can go to a thrift store, or, if I can stand it, be put aside in a box for next December when folks post requests on Freecycle for Christmas decorations. Then I try to keep things logical, putting all the Santas together, and the snowmen together, and little figurines. After a while it's like packing a house to move--you start putting things in wherever they will fit, just so you can get it all done.
From there it spreads. Before I start putting all the usual things back in their everyday places, I wonder if I TRULY love it, if it makes me smile, or do I just keep it out of habit. I get ruthless, filling boxes to take to the local thrift store. Already today I've thrown away half a kitchen trash bag full of expired medicines, half-empty bottles of lotions and creams I no longer like, make-up that is at least 4 years old, etc. Yes, these were in the master bathroom and closet, which is nowhere near the Christmas tree, but that's exactly what I mean. It's like an annual virus. Maybe I'm a little obsessive-compulsive.
So I say to J-Man, "Look at this clutter. We can't just have the DVDs laying around on top of the videos, on the coffee table, the end table and the TV. They're taking over."
"What do you suggest?" he asks, trying to sound as if he sincerely wants to know.
"Let's get rid of some of these old videos. Between Dish Network and the option of using Netflix, there is no reason we need all these videos. Except for a few we want to collect, like your Stargates and Titanic, and The Stand, etc. or don't come on often, like Schindler's List, we should just toss them. We're only buying DVD's now anyway."
J-Man mumbles something illogical and I head into the kitchen to see what else I can declutter.
Drifting back through the living room, I note that Jurassic Park is on AMC again tonight, celebrating its 15th anniversary. J-Man says, "I'm taping it."
"What?" I exclaim. "It's on a channel with commercials, and besides, we have it right here on video! Why take up time on the DVR taping something we can already watch any time we want?"
"This is a better quality," he explains.
Did he or did he not just make my point?
3 comments:
Glad to know this battle wages all across the land . . . we are finally down to only a few select and well loved 8 tracks. Yes, we still have a player - it only works on track 3, but that's beside the point, apparently *s*
hahaha, when I got my MIL's china and needed to find a place to put all 16 place settings with serving pieces, I went through the same conversation, but it was with myself. :-) It was fun looking through all your videos, we have a lot of the same ones...maybe we should negotiate a time share?? heeheehee.
Wow...we're all the same, aren't we? I've been trying to throw away old videos since we married 12 years ago, but he just won't let me! I say sneak them out, he'll never notice!
And yes, the "cleaning virus" spreads in my home, too. When the mood strikes, I get moving, because it doesn't strike often!!
Post a Comment