The kids are back in school and I've been on a housecleaning rampage. My messy house finally got to be too much. Perhaps it's because we'll be celebrating our nineteenth year here on September 14, but suddenly it's all too clear that the things we haven't used in many years, but thought we might someday, were just taking up space. Once I got started, I was addicted. Addicted to lightening my load. Addicted to making each surface look different, less cluttered.It's resulted in a decluttering of my imagination, too. Hopefully this will translate to lots of room to write new fiction.
In the meantime I'm still looking at each thing we own with new eyes--rediscovering some lost friends with excitement, tossing others in bags to throw away or donate. Our garbage can is suddenly bursting each week.
This morning, it was filled so high, the cover didn't quite close. I always feel guilty and anxious when that happens. Which is odd because the City of Berkeley trash collectors have never refused to take away the contents of an over-full can. This only happened once when I lived in Manhattan. I was punished by those guys for being greedy with the cans. They didn't take the trash for the whole building as revenge. So I'm always expecting the lid to fall.
Today I was out trying to sell some used books and when I returned the trash collectors had clearly come to our block based on the once neatly aligned containers of my neighbors standing at odd angles, some lids left open. I looked hopefully for evidence mine had been emptied, too.
But my trash can was gone.
Gone.
Nowhere to be seen.
For the past few days I'd been thinking I couldn't wait until Thursday (today) when I could begin the sorting and discarding process in a new part of the house, gallons of new garbage space waiting to accept my offerings to the cause of a fresh, renewed, empty (in the good Buddhist sense) life. And now I can't--at least for a while. The City tells me sometimes people steal larger cans so they can throw away more without officially paying for the can. But that's sort of creepy, too. Was someone watching and noticed I was gone?
The nice lady claimed they'd deliver a new can this week. Until then, I'll have to sort and clean my life in other ways.
Was this a who-gives-a-fuck? blog post or what? Thanks for listening!
11 comments:
Oh, Donna, I'm laughing so hard right now at your ending - but in a good, cheerful belly-laughing kind of way. It's always good to clear out and make room for new.
Yes, I'm sure you're rearranging and getting rid of items will set new laws in motion for new, sexy stories! Yah!
p.s. Three cheers for the trash men that don't discriminate!
@ donna..i so know the feeling..of getting high by giving stuff away or putting it in the garbage..i do this every three years..letting everything i didnt used in this time..no matter of cloth or books..or whatever....
@neve...
again..i m under you..somehow i m quite often under you and donna..is that a sign???
when you're done, you wanna come here? we've been in this house for 15 years. ;-)
we just have problems with raccoons knocking over the cans and strewing garbage all over the backyard - but they don't steal the cans!
@ robin
try to tame them with bananas and peanut butter..it works..ask kristina wright..:-)
Yes, Neve, I am grateful to those trash men! Danielle, you are wise beyond your years. I do believe the fact that these things have been sitting around unused for so long is the necessary impetus to do something, lol. And Robin, we'll I am certainly of a roll with the unsentimental attitude toward things. Maybe I should open a "heartless homecleaning" business? The problem with using bananas and peanut butter is that kids might eat the bait, lol...
I find this inspiring, Donna! Interestingly, you are doing this in the season of Autumn, which in Five-Element Acupuncture (sorry if you're tired of my mentioning that, lol) is the season of reflection and acknowledging what is and letting go of what is not and/or doesn't serve. Beautiful.
The other problem with bananas and peanut butter is you'll get more raccoons. It's like an addiction, if you stop feeding them, there will just be more raccoons to raid your trash...
I can relate to the cleansing, Donna. I've been in much the same process the last week or so. It's been very fulfilling, both in the house and creatively. And this from a guy who is clearly far a clean freak (just look at what I write if you want proof.) ;-)
I suppose that is why it's so fulfilling, eh?
Verification word: acherru
Gesundheit!
@ donna
the kids might eat the bait!!! i almost peed my pants when i read that,,,,,:-)
Actually, Emerald, I always love it when you talk about Five-Element Acupuncture. I've always been drawn to seasonal schema--so please, carry on!
And that's way cool, Craig. It does make a huge difference, doesn't it? My task is still in the beginning stages, cause this time I'm cleaning DEEP, but with each step I'm feeling so opened to the new.
I chuckled myself at the thought of kids (actually toddlers) happening upon the "treats." Fortunately the days of constant vigilance over innocents are gone, and I have to let go and let them misbehave as they will ;-).
LMAO at the closing line of your blog post. Nothing is more refreshing than a good house cleaning and/or purging spree. My studio is longing for just such a deep clean ... I hope to satisfy that longing next week. :) DeDe
Hey DeDe, I hope you have a fine time purging and straightening. It feels great and really seems to open the way to creativity. I was thinking I should have done before and after pictures, but best to spare you all the sad "before"!
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