Even though it’s the end of February, it sure feels like spring. The snow is melting, birds are singing and the days seem to be growing longer. This spring cleaning has been a little different for me from all the previous ones. My cleaning consists of emptying a house from which I had lived for the past twenty eight years of my life. In fact it was the longest place I had ever dwelled. Where does one begin? How do we pick and choose what to save and what to keep?
I tried to keep my emotions in check so not to become a hoarder. Out of the closets came boxes and boxes of my life. Not just mine alone, but my children’s. You see, I had packed away every piece of art, homework and spelling tests that had gold stars in the right hand corner. There were Mother’s Day cards and birthday cards. School pictures and camp pictures. Ceramic figurines carefully painted and programs for every school production that they had performed in with their names ablaze before my eyes.
I came across my little collections. I had started collecting Disney mugs for every cartoon musical since Snow White. My two glass cupboards were filled with them for the shear smile they would put on my face every morning. Dare I use them for coffee, it would have to have been a major event.
In the children’s toy closet, I had bags of Beanie Babies from the 1980’s. It reminded me of the many mornings I would run to the store openings after I had a tip the following day that the store was getting them in. How I longed for the many collectables that I so humorously explained that they were for my daughter while secretly they were for me. Don’t get me wrong, she loved them but did not derive that feeling of satisfaction once the desired baby was conquered.
There were sticker books, Pogs, Trolls, Furbies, Polly Pockets, Pound Puppies and My Little Ponies by the boxful. There were so many baby dolls that it looked like a daycare facility. How does one pick and choose who stays and who goes? A dear friend of mine had worked for Mattel Toys and started me on collecting Barbie Dolls. I had the Holiday Collections, the vintage remakes and anything that was rumored to be a collectable. How I longed to open some just to play with as if I was still a ten year old little girl. I controlled my urge and would just admire them from a far.
I collected Chintz, the beautiful China made in England adored with small flower designs. They made me happy. My goal was to collect 12 large dinner plates as to use for a formal dinner someday. I had met half my goal and along the way acquired many other pieces which I loved all equally.
On the weeks of my packing up, I had an awakening. If I were to take all these things with me what purpose would they serve. They are collected, they are stored and on a rare day, I would visit them. Do I really need to take them all with me? I had decided not to. I realized that just as I was moving on with my life and letting go of past “junk”, I needed more than anything to lighten the rest of my life. I carefully would pick and choose what to keep and what to let go of. I kept the special cards and school mementos. I kept a few but select items from each of my collections. I gave many to my children with the thought that I can always revisit the ones that they have in their own little collections.
Life is in the present, the past with all its memories can be lightly stored within our hearts. Yes, spring cleaning is very fulfilling on many levels, even if it’s only to revisit the past once a year.