letting go of old things made from cotton, polyester, and plastic

Breaking out the Bailey's and Kahlua and listening to "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?" today. This is hard.

I recently read an article in our local newspaper describing the difference between a hoarder and a packrat. Not wanting to be either, but realizing that I have, perhaps, maybe just a little bit, saved more than my fair share of old stuff, I've resolved to get it all out of here before the summer hits. Slowly.

I know that I can't stop time by holding onto my kids' old clothes (would I really want to? Maybe just visit the past now and then, but buttloads of diaper changes don't really appeal to me). And it feels wrong to keep things that could benefit another person by storing them in a box under my stairs--until my kids find them someday--after they've become hopelessly outdated and useful to no one.

Generosity is the direct result of frugality, but hoarding is another form of wastefulness. When you have less stuff, your mind is free to wander and relax. To be able to look around and see a clutter-free home is a gift to oneself. I have a beautiful sunroom that could be used for hydroponic gardening and year-round plants, but it is like condemning them to death to put them out there now. I'll spare you the photos of what happened to my houseplants since October when it got chilly out there. Shriveled carcasses, I tell you.

I've decided to skip the garage sale idea and go for consigning everything, and what can't be done away with there will be donated to local charities. Consignment sales are wonderful because you get to keep about 70% of the sales, and the rest goes to a charity or cause designated by the group running the sale. There is some work involved though, with pressing and tagging clothes, but if you plan ahead and know the sale dates, you can spread the tasks out over time.

For those interested in consignment sales in the Middle Tennessee area, here is a website that lists many of them, including links to their websites:

http://www.kidsconsignmentsales.com/tn.htm

And now, before I resume my clothes-sorting activities, here are some of the donated items that didn't make the consignment sale cut:

I bought three of these hats in a moment of gardening zeal, but never ever wore them. I'm an old soul, but seriously?

Many good times were had with this Polaroid instant camera. Ahem.

Anybody who grew up in the 80's will know what this is--the propane-powered curling iron dubbed "The Clicker." We all carried them in our purses in junior high for emergency situations. I think some of the boys might have too.

A 90's Gap original. Yes, those are ducks. This in the era of grunge, go figure.

My army canteen. Plastic-flavored water. I hope the army is doing better for our soldiers now.

We loved the "Bloomin' Onion" from Outback Steakhouse and wanted to make our own, so we excitedly bought this guy at a garage sale. Beware of those "As Seen on TV" ads; either that or the problem was just me in the kitchen with a deep-fryer.


70's Tupperware coasters. What were they drinking back then?

Hey, there's little Olivia from The Cosby Show. How did she grow up so fast? This, coupled with my daughter's Backstreet Boys collection, makes for a great thrift store music donation.

Although we mustn't forget the Abba cassette. Includes the smash hit "Dancing Queen!"

These shorts are clearly having identity issues.

Great brand--Osh Kosh b'gosh--but the bugs and colors don't match up. I was always confused as to who to put these on--my son or my daughter. It didn't look right on either of them.


May God have mercy on the soul of the person who designed these. Swim trunks or not, there's no excuse for this. It looks like the "U" has strangled, or even worse, decapitated the poor blond girl!


I hope that stirrup pants stay in hell where they belong.


I'm feeling groovy. Enough of the procrastinating. Back to work I go, hi ho.