Lawdy-Lawdy, Miss Mawdy!

Susan, I'm a collector too, so I ended up writing two articles for another site that you might find interesting:
How to Eliminate Clutter That Has Emotional Links (http://www.ehow.com/how_2204443_clutter-that-has-emotional-links.html) and How to Know You Have Too Much Stuff (http://www.ehow.com/how_2245663_have-much-stuff.html).

Virginia, two great articles you've written...read them last night, along with links to other articles. Thank you for all the good ideas that MAYBE I can put to use in my Land of Procrastination! ~ Susan

Susan, I concur. When being given family items after folks passed away, I discovered a pair of petrified baby shoes. Petrified by nature. Buckled over, black with the texture and appearance of coal! They are, I belive, my grandfather's baby shoes from about 1901-1902. What do you do with those? You wrap them neatly and put them in a large box with other things like a mink wrap with lots of heads, eyes and claws!! We sure have stuff...but stuff that comes with fond and funny memories from many years, many decades and many people. I wouldn't part with these things for anything. Now I wonder if my boys are going to want to retain the ancient 'artifcats' too?? Hhmmm. I love your story!
Mattie

Lawdy-Lawdy, Miss Mattie -- petrified shoes and mink wrap with heads (are the teeth and eyes showing?)and claws...ewwwww! Probably at least one of your sons will consider them "treasures" and keep 'em in the box as curiosities! Thanks so much for being a faithful reader of my stories and leaving comments, too.
Love you ~ Susan

Susan dear,
Your true tale has me chuckling at every sentence, because I'm the same way! But I've also seen your vast collection of various pretties, and it would indeed be hard to part with most of them. Many of the items do have a "history". When your grand-angels are a bit older, let them pick out a few things that they'd like to have some future day and make a list of those wishes. Maybe I ought to do the same thing with some of my stuff.
I know for certain that in your heart and soul, material possessions pale in comparison to your strong faith in the Lord and your love for all things He created.
Love you a bushel and a peck,
Sandi.

That is why Scott's site is so important. We can tell those little histories that surrounds our lives and he saves them.
You forgot the last part. "Love you a bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck" was the way we always said it. ;-)
Gail

Gail, Sandi actually knows the whole song "I Love You A Bushel And A Peck" and she'd sing it to her children growing up! She may've made up a few phrases herself but her kids loved it.
You enjoy your day...I've gotta go dust my stuff! ~ Susan

Well now I didn't know it was a song, it was just a saying of Mother's. Thanks

Dear Sandi, between your stuff and mine, we could open an enormous Flea Market, couldn't we? If we promise not to buy back our own stuff! Thanks, sis, for being so sweet to always add your comments to my posts.
I love you right back (((hugs))) ~ Susan

Hi Susan,

Pretty hard to throw "stuff" away, isn't it? Especially when that stuff has meaning to you. I've wondered, too, which of my kids will take my treasures. Could be my treasures and their trash! I do have a southern daughter-in-law who values family things greatly, and I think she's instilling that in her two daughters, so I have high hopes that my "stuff" will live on.
Nancy Kopp

Thanks, Nancy, for popping in to read my short story this morning. Maybe one way-in-the-future day, those who follow after us will unearth the ruins of ancient civilizations and discover OUR stuff! Now that's the first time I've ever had THAT thought!
Have a happy day ~ Susan

My sister just turned 80. She has a house full and is still collecting. She and her husband recently took a weekend trip to Vermont. My brother in law complained they had to stop at at least 100 lawn and garage sales. The back seat of the car had so many of her purchases in it that the rear of the car actually sagged with the excess weight.

Fred

Susan and Gail,
The rest of verse one of the song that starts out "I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck", goes like this: "A barrel and a heap and I'm talking in my sleep about YOU!"
When my three children were young, I made up additional verses, one of which goes, " You're as funny as a clown; you're the cutest kid in town."
I'm humming the tune as I type, but of course this doesn't show up in the comments section here!
Susan, I laughed very hard at Fred's remark about his sister! Can't you just see the rear end of their car sagging under the weight of her garage sale treasures?
Love,
Sandi.

Reading this, I'm reminded of my mother cleaning out her 'stuff', then moving and still keeping enough stuff somehow to fill a room. At the time, I didnt appreciate it but now I do, and every day even more. Even 2 years after her passing, there is still stuff to be sorted through. My children dont know it, but I'm saving some of it just for them to have to go through after I make my exit!
Your stories always make me smile!
Soozun

Sooz, spoken like a true mother who cares about her "treasures" being passed on to her "chilrens" -- no matter if they consider the things as worthy to save as you do! I'm sure my kids will wonder why on earth I saved some of the stuff I've got. I appreciate hearing from you. What are you going to write about next?
Blessings ~ Susan