Too much stuff

I wish I'd taken a picture of my late sister's sewing room before we dismantled it. She'd been quilting for at least twenty years, and there were boxes, bags, and bins of fabric everywhere. Knowing only a smidge about sewing, I knew enough not to throw out the pieces I would ordinarily consider scraps.

I contacted some charitable groups who made out like bandits with all the goodies, but the family kept some large pieces, just because. We also found a huge bin of quilted tops. All they need is batting and quilting together. We saved those pieces too.

Again, not because any of us want to quilt, but we wanted to keep my sister's labor of love in the family. Another sister told me she has an aunt's silver, Mama's good dishes, Nana's furniture, and a lot of Daddy's things at her house. She claims she has no room for this treasure hoard of fabric we saved.

When we moved back to Georgia about seven years ago, we'd already undergone the huge downsizing purge. We'd trimmed our possessions down by 3/4 because we didn't need all that stuff anymore.

We moved into a cozy cottage in the deep South, and life was good. Then we came-by a few things here and there. Stuff that was useful in some way. Before long, all the closets in our new place were stuffed. I've got new stacks of fabric in my office and I don't know where I will put it, much less the cache of fabric for the "family."

Clearly, I have too much stuff. On Sunday our pastor spoke on the follies of stuff, citing the Bible passage about the rich, young ruler who couldn't give up his wealth. I don't know that I've amassed great wealth, unless you count seashells, driftwood, and good memories, but I'm loathe to part with any of my stuff. I might need it, you know?

I have yoga stuff, music stuff, writing stuff, promotional stuff, festival stuff, newspaper stuff, computer stuff, and more stowed in here. Prime stuff, in my estimation.

I guess if I'm lucky enough to live a long life, I will downsize and move again, but it's not something I look forward to. I really like my stuff.

Do you feel the same way about your stuff?

What are you unwilling to part with?

Maggie Toussaint
www.maggietoussaint.com
www.facebook.com/MaggieToussaintAuthor#

ps -- smoking hot review of Murder in the Buff at Amazon this past week. Here's a snip:

"This is a suspense story mixed with romance and the dynamics of a family. It is a story that will keep you guessing and totally entertained. This is the first book that I have read by Maggie Toussaint and definitely not the last." Marilou George, amazon reviewer

WOOT!

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