Spring Cleaning in the Fall

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  • Spring Cleaning in the Fall
    Spring Cleaning in the Fall
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I've always been a little weird (okay, I'm more than a little weird), and a late-tothe-party kind of gal. Tackling my massive Spring cleaning mission in the Fall seems apropos for me.

There's just something about the cooler weather, turning leaves, and football that makes me want to stay in the house, fireplace going, and start pawing through all of the 'treasures' that we've accumulated in 47+ years. I love the cooler weather as long as I don't have to be out in it if I don't want to be. In the Spring, I want to be outside frolicking with the butterflies, not performing drudgery.

My main problem is, as I've stated in previous columns, I'm easily distracted, so anything I drag out of the various places where I've stashed my 'treasures' may stay where I've dumped them for an undetermined amount of time. That's because I haven't seen most of it in years, so I end up examining each item, trying to remember where we were when we acquired it. And, sometimes, why?

After procrastinating as long as I can, I realize that I'd better get busy. One of two things will happen. (1) I'll finally sort everything and put it in its appropriate place back in the closet since I can't part with my keepsakes or it'll be off to the local thrift store because (2) David will threaten to dispose of it all if I don't DO SOMETHING WITH ALL THIS JUNK NOW!

Well, dang. Just because David's tired of walking around or through it doesn't mean he has to shout. He's the hard of hearing one. Not me

I try. Really I do. I finally got started by digging through the guest bedroom closet, where I store clothes that are out of season, out of style, or out of my size. I also own a lot of coats, raincoats, and dozens of sweaters. I seem to have an obsession with buying sweaters.

Is there a help group for people like me? "Hi, I'm Debi, and I'm a sweaterholic." Probably not.

Anyway, also stuffed in this overstuffed closet is several boxes full of VHS tapes. Some are old movies, mostly Disney, but some are of football games our son played in and videos of our daughter when she was in a dance group as a small child.

I've got to get those things converted before they're lost. By the time my procrastinating self gets them on CDs, those will be out of date, and a new format will be the wave of the future. At this rate, I'll never be 'in'.

On the top shelf of the closet is several years' worth of yearbooks that we never get down unless we can't remember when a former school mate graduated or what they looked like since none of us resemble our youthful school days selves. I know I don't, although I can't decide if that's a good or bad thing. LOL. That's all they're good for; jogging our ever failing memories of a time we'd just as soon forget, for the most part.

I have a ceramic doll I bought several years ago from a store that's no longer in business as are most of the stores I liked to shop in. I wanted it to wear the costume that every baby in the family since Mica has worn for their first Halloween. It's nestled in an antique-looking pram. I have it hidden in the closet since it has freaked out all the grandbabies since that first Halloween.

Stored in two cedar chests are thousands of family photos, old magazines of historical importance as well as newspapers of significant events. If I add one more thing to either cedar chest, they will explode.

Every drawer in the room is stuffed full of things I have no use for but can't seem to let go. I haven't obtained 'hoarder' status yet, but it's only a matter of time at the rate I'm going.

All I can say is it's a good thing we don't own a bigger house. I'd give anything if I could have a larger kitchen, bigger laundry room, additional bedroom, etc., but, knowing me, I'd fill it up and have even more stuff to sort and store.

That's me. Give me stretch pants, a big purse, or a bigger house, and I guarantee you I'd somehow find enough stuff to fill it up.

I guess I'll wait until it's officially Spring cleaning time. I wouldn't want to get in trouble with the "Housewives United" association for cleaning during the wrong time of the year.

Does anyone have a copy of the HU handbook? Do they still hand them out at weddings?

Oh, well. I guess I'll take a nap instead.