Good Will

Dear Brian,

Yesterday I went through all the boxes of your things we'd put in the garage. I wanted to make sure that I wasn't getting rid of anything that I felt was important to keep.  Now that there's been some space and time since you died, my perspective is a little better.  But we'd done a good job of keeping things, and knowing what didn't need to keep.  A lot of your shoes and clothing was boxed, along with the one lone golf club and your microphone stand.  Neither I nor Tanya would be using it, or wanting it.  I know I certainly wouldn't be playing in a band and singing for folks!!  (Ha!)

After I'd gone through them again, I left them sitting in the garage.  About two hours later, I was like "What am I waiting for?  Why am I waiting?" and went into the garage and loaded up one trunk full.  Today, I dropped it off at the Goodwill store.  I'm sure there will be people who need or can use some of your things.  No sense in letting them just sit here and do nothing. 

But it wasn't easy.

My fear was always that you'd be forgotten ... and parting with your things means less of "you" is here.  And it hurts.  There's a huge hole in my heart, in my being, that used to be occupied by you.

Sometimes it's just a small ache.  Sometimes it hurts so much I get a belly ache. 

I thought it would soothe a few of the raw places by taking a trip to Grandma's, but that was very difficult.  Mostly because you and I traveled there often, together. 

Each day goes by and I can get lost in being busy.
But once I finish with *stuff*, and I'm alone with my thoughts,
it gets difficult once again.

The one question I ask over and over is "Why couldn't you stay??"

I miss you very much.
Love, Mom

Treasures!

Saturday morning, and I'm awake extra early today, but that's how it is some times.  After much tossing and turning, I decided to head out to the local park, see what I could come up with -- at the same time, get a daily walk in.  Nothing much in the way of 'eventful' happens that early in the park, however.

When I got home, my son was up, awake, semi alert -- early on a Saturday for him, because its 50% off everything day at Goodwill!   Off we go, looking to find any kind of treasures -- we ended up hitting 3 different Goodwill stores, spent a total of just under $30 and got 24 treasures!  A very good shopping trip!

Can't wait to post pictures of the "after" as we experiment with different techniques.  There's something about using your creative side that makes you feel alive. :)  And if things don't work the way we plan, we're not out a lot of money.

One of the things I found that seems to fit into the whole southwest theme here in the Valley of the Sun is this jug with leather on it.  I'm assuming its deer hide, as there are small places where there are tufts of hair still attached.  The only marking on the bottom is "cy"  and while its not an old piece, it seems to have been made in the old style, and that works for me as well. 

Treasures

"One man's trash is another man's treasure."  ~~~ That much is very true.  And the evidence can be seen at any local Goodwill store.  When was the last time you shopped in a Goodwill store?  I never tire of going in and looking at all the things people don't want any more.  And if you have an eye out for things, you never know what you'll find! 

Over time, I've collected a lot of different things.  Lately, I'm more interested in things that I can actually use.  I always look for PYREX  brand glass bakeware -- they work well, they stand up to the tests of time, and frankly, I love how they look!  I'm not sure it matters to me if its old, or new.  However, I do have some pieces that I know are very old  (Scalloped handle 1926-1939)  -- an inheritance thing, you see.  :)  Here's today's find:  

I also collect antique or unusual kitchen gadgets, like this one:

Not sure what specific use these tongs are made for, 

but seems like it would work well for olives, 

given the rounded shape and 'fingers'.

If you haven't shopped a Goodwill store in a while, maybe you should give it a try again!  You never know what treasures you'll find in there!