tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post3708975021510990287..comments2024-03-28T17:39:40.759-04:00Comments on Granny Sue's News and Reviews: It's Just StuffGranny Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01129064020727041161noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post-85030799396318692472015-04-10T22:39:08.420-04:002015-04-10T22:39:08.420-04:00I too have been thinking about this and wondering ...I too have been thinking about this and wondering if now is the time to start downsizing -- or to just leave it for the children to auction off, when we are gone. I have accumulated a LOT of stuff from auctions and garage sales. Mixed all together in this home of mine are 'stuff' beloved by strangers and 'stuff' beloved by my folks and my in-laws. I want my children to know which is which . . . but they are all busy so I may have to pass this information on to my grandchildren. My granddaughters seem to want my house after I'm gone (8 yr old asked me to leave it to her in 'that thing when you die' lol -- a will). I'm wondering if these young girls want the house so much as all the memories and love and family time that they have had here. Nancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11526258792227541799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post-46047848793344098582015-03-13T18:23:56.646-04:002015-03-13T18:23:56.646-04:00I still have too much, but did manage to pass alon...I still have too much, but did manage to pass along most of my teaching "stuff" after hearing Dovie talk about the concept of Wopila or give-away. (I also had help tossing by accepting the help of some of my ESOL students, ruthless in discarding. Dovie further explained that Wopila is not the same as discarding. Rather, a treasured item is passed on because one had enjoyed it long enough, and now it's someone else's turn. That helped me during my move from the condo, not rejecting items, but allowing them to move on and be appreciated by someone else. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post-2802229322506904962015-03-11T13:00:09.267-04:002015-03-11T13:00:09.267-04:00It seems, my friends, as if we are all on some lev...It seems, my friends, as if we are all on some level contemplating these issues. Jenny, you have a while yet but you're wise to start thinking about it now. I have told my sons to take whatever they want from our stuff when we're gone, let the grandchildren choose what they want, and then hire an auction company to deal with the rest because much of it will have no personal memories for them. I do not ever want them to think they "must" keep anything we leave behind--they can sell it all if they like. I will not be here to care, and they don't need the worry and guilt!Granny Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01129064020727041161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post-38066325251259098192015-03-11T12:57:50.216-04:002015-03-11T12:57:50.216-04:00Joy, you are in the most difficult stages because ...Joy, you are in the most difficult stages because not only are you dealing with all of the decisions that need to be made, you're also dealing with the grief of knowing that you are facing the end of an important part of your life as your parents pass on. Add to that the stress of dealing with so many things at once--the house, your Dad, all that stuff, probably medical decisions--and it's just overwhelming to contemplate. Sending a hug that you will be well and still strong at end of this difficult path.<br />Granny Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01129064020727041161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post-18287254793443935322015-03-10T21:39:51.025-04:002015-03-10T21:39:51.025-04:00Oh Yes Sue. I have been the family member who deal...Oh Yes Sue. I have been the family member who dealt with my parent's home starting last October. Mom died two years ago and Dad is now in an independent living/with support suite. Winnowing what to put in his new home with the most meaning for him as well as making sure that there is wheelchair space everywhere took a lot of careful planning with no input from Dad. <br /><br />That left everything else. I divided things up with minimal input between the 'kids (me included)' and was still left with so much volume of personal belongings. <br /><br />I am still dealing with the things I brought home to deal with later. Dad's old condo is empty, the renovations are complete and it is now on the slow market for reselling (another time hog story). <br /><br />I DO NOT want to leave such a huge job behind when I can no longer do the work/make the decisions). I still have a great amount of my MIL's stuff to deal with too, all in our little home. <br /><br />This week is another sort / donate / sell / recycle / purge. I have a friend coming for 4 days and that will help (the stuff isn't personal for her). So far 3 large garbage bags are full and the 'free stuff put on the curb has gotten rid of 2 items. Not even a dent.<br /><br />I guess you can tell your post hit me right where I am. Thank you Sue.<br /><br />JoyJoy@aVintageGreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16788328980114729976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post-61150494144046162552015-03-10T19:48:04.818-04:002015-03-10T19:48:04.818-04:00A friend pointed out recently that memories genera...A friend pointed out recently that memories generally are only "remembered" by three generations. After that memory fades away from descendants, unless they are lucky enough to be a storytelling family that preserves those memories. Even then, will those who never knew my mother find her bedside table as endearing as I do? Probably not. Will they feel the same attachment to the cracked teapot I have saved because I remember waiting a whole day at a farm auction for the auctioneer to finally get to it? I almost hope they do not, because then they may feel obligated to keep these things, when really they will not need them at all.Granny Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01129064020727041161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post-61922467598472683062015-03-10T19:20:46.175-04:002015-03-10T19:20:46.175-04:00Wonderful thoughtful post. Miss Cindy recently mov...Wonderful thoughtful post. Miss Cindy recently moved to Brasstown. Before coming she 'down-sized' her home till there was barely anything left. She kept telling me by the time she had rid her life of unnecessary stuff the details of the move would work themselves out...and they did. Granny-now she's a different story. Pap says as long as you leave me a trail to my chair, the bed, and the bathroom I'll be alright LOL! Sometimes I think about encouraging her to get rid of it all but then I think why cause a fuss about it now? I'm more like you-I collect and keep-then one day I get a wild hair and want to give it all away and I do!Tipperhttp://www.blindpigandtheacorn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post-38357674061281638452015-03-10T19:00:19.560-04:002015-03-10T19:00:19.560-04:00Interesting post and something to think about. I s...Interesting post and something to think about. I sure hope we're still spry years from now, but.....we never know.<br />Judynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post-42801674204050876662015-03-10T17:04:31.928-04:002015-03-10T17:04:31.928-04:00This is such a hard thing for some of us. I've...This is such a hard thing for some of us. I've been working on getting rid of stuff for years now. I inherited all of my mamma's treasure, which I loved making it so much harder to get rid of things. But going through her house & watching things go into disrepair in in my mother-in-law's house because she will not let us help with it - has convinced me to purge hard & purge now. I think the older we get the harder it becomes to let go. So I keep the rule that one thing in means two things out & constantly fill boxes to donate. I really don't want my one child to have to deal with it all alone so I'm doing as much as I can now. (I'm 48 by the way but my experiences with this at a young age have convinced me to deal with sooner rather than later)Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00305409125105992525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post-32198655945102757432015-03-10T16:36:35.280-04:002015-03-10T16:36:35.280-04:00Terrific post, Susanna. I visited with a friend to...Terrific post, Susanna. I visited with a friend today who is in the middle of the final downsizing and its scary to see. Hard decisions that hurt. How can you let go of your babydoll baby buggy that your mother kept for you and your daughter used.Scared me I hope into action with my own accumulation of stuff. Thanks for reflecting on the problem.ELLOUISESTORYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15524893156201808778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post-28690746661070321162015-03-10T15:40:24.454-04:002015-03-10T15:40:24.454-04:00I've been thinking about this too, Sue. I des...I've been thinking about this too, Sue. I describe myself as a maximalist when it comes to my "things". I'm hoping as long as I'm aware of the possibilities of what could happen, I'll be able to make the decisions for myself, in a timely manner.Susan Atkinsonnoreply@blogger.com