My daughter and grandson moved out about a month ago. They didn't move very far away but I admittedly started feeling the depression of empty nest syndrome and a strong sense of both uselessness and a loss of what to do. I mean literally, I had no idea what to do with all of this new found time on my hands!
This past weekend I decided to get my house in order. Okay, more truthfully, my house is not in "do it in a weekend" condition. I'm a putter-offer of projects and a notorious saver of "stuff". Pictures, drawings, baby clothes and toys, books, cards and off the wall wacky things that I've been given over the years by friends and family.
For a very long time, I couldn't bring myself to toss something because the person who gave it to me had passed on or maybe because I don't get to see them that often and by having the item, it made me feel a connection or remember a happy time with them. There was also the excuse "I can't toss something this perfectly good, someone can use it!"
Like many people, I'm taking the attitude of New Year, New Me. Out with the old, cluttered, messy lifestyle with stuff popping out of every closet, drawer and cupboard!
I sit back and envision neatness and calm. Things match and everything is in it's place. Dust bunnies are exterminated. Prayers are no longer mandatory when opening closets in the hopes of avoiding a avalanche. Ahhhh, sweet organization!
So far, I cleaned out and painted my daughter's old bathroom. I really was happy pulling down Hello Kitty and rolling beige paint over the bubble gum pink walls. Every once in a while I'd feel a twinge of sadness and regret and even contemplated saving a few Kitty memento's, but then I would look at all the make-up, barrettes and heaven knows what else shoved under the sink. I pulled out globs of hair, a nail trimmer and even a hair clip from the drain. Yuck. Buh-bye Kitty!
The next attack was the front hall closet. I found out there is a floor in there under the pile of shoes, dog toys, dog clothes, kid's toys, outerwear, purses and the like. I found my kite I've had for at least 10 years still in the package. I love flying kites and now that I've found it and won't be spending as much time cleaning, I'll take my grandson to the park in the spring and let him try. Then we can go to Carraba's and use the $30 gift card I found in one of the old purses.
Right now I'm in the "bonus room" which became known as the local McVaugh dump station. You name it, it's in there. Rugs, a couch, dressers galore, books, books, and more books (which never get read because I'm always busy cleaning) toys, enough clothes to dress 200 people (half of them I don't even know where they came from!), snorkeling gear, all of my Disney guides along with all of my photo's and the list goes on.
With each room I feel a sense of accomplishment. All of the Christmas items are now neatly stored in a closet in one of the bedrooms. As I find other Christmas items in odd places, they are immediately taken up to be organized with the others.
The bonus room still looks like a hoarders dream but the piles are organized with intent. It's either a keeper and usable or it will be taken to Goodwill. Maybe I'll try my hand selling something on ebay. Either way, it's outta here!
As strange as this sounds, I'm a little nervous of what to expect when this project is finished. I mean really, what will I do with my extra time? It made me realize there is a reason I have always stayed so busy that I just set things to the side. New Year, New Me has now taken on a new meaning. Time to get back to cleaning and finish this project I started.
