Today Zachary and I took another truckload of stuff to the transfer station aka "The Dump." It's one of my favorite places despite the unpleasant odors that linger in the air, the flies and clouds of dust. There is something liberating in heaving one's piles of trash and unwanted belongings into the big containers at The Dump. Zachary enjoys the experience because he loves to see things break apart as he hurls the items over the safety ropes and they crash into the debris below. He and I have been partners in this same adventure several times this summer. We've discarded bunkbeds, mattresses, old dressers, expired food storage, cardboard boxes, styrofoam inserts, pieces of wood, old toys, etc.
Some things--like the styrofoam and toys--were loaded into the back of the truck without Mark's knowledge. Mark is drawn to styrofoam like moths to a light bulb. He usually breaks it apart into a million little pieces. And the toys--my kids can own a certain toy for years and never play with it until I decide to throw or give it away. Then, suddenly, the toy becomes their most prized possession. So, often I have to sneak the toys out of the house in the cover of night while the wee ones are sleeping.
Several years ago I decided to sort through all of the toys in our house and garage. I asked Lance to haul all of the toy bins out and lock me and the toys in the garage. I looked at every toy, and if a toy didn't pass my inspection--meaning if it was broken, dirty or I didn't think the kids would play with it any more--I tossed it into the bed of the truck. This exercise took me several hours, and not once was my secret project discovered by the kids. As luck would have it, though, the girls came out into the garage just as Lance was securing a tarp over the load. Some toys were "peeking" out from under the tarp. I quickly ushered the daughters back into the house before any toys could be rescued.
Now, if I could just part with some of my stuff as easily as I can part with others' belongings, I'd have it made!
2 comments:
Isnt that the truth. Looking back on it, I wish I didnt give my mom such a hard time for deep 6ing what really is a truck load of junk!
That last sentence is the most vital of the entire page! I have a huge job ahead of me and have become very leprechaunish in my hanging onto possessions in my older years. Alas, no one can break the cycle but me! But I must say, it is gratifying to hear that I actually did something positive for Stefanie!
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