March 10, 2012

Wow, March already.   I have been here a year now.

Mom and dad’s time away has given me a time of solace to center myself.  All the changes over the past year and a half have deeply affected me – more so than I had let myself believe.  Divorce, death, job loss, moving to a different town, losing my identity, accepting public assistance, living with my parents, loss of the familiar, job hunt rejection.  I was fine with all that, but then I added going to the dentist and it nearly killed me!  (Just kidding – I would rather go to the dentist and give a public speech than ensure my current state much longer.)

It is times like these that bring a person closer to their God.  My greater powers and I have become tight.  I am starting to hear an inner voice that I have ignored for so long. (And NOT the one that says, “Now would be a great time for a cocktail!”)  Being the over achiever that I am, I was challenged to take a day of silence and I did.

No computer, phone, TV, books, talking - I decided to participate in a “moving meditation” so asked permission to clean out and organize some of mom’s dining room, built-in cupboards.  You may recall that when mom and dad left, I was instructed to NOT throw anything away.  And I have not. 

Now, however, I have the green light.  On the phone mom recalled how good she felt when she opened up a cupboard or drawer and it was neatly organized.  (I would do this to one cupboard per visit when I was actually a visitor.)  Go for it, she said.

One of my friends described mom and dad’s home as Mid-century Modern.    I thought that a lovely way of saying functional yet somewhat outdated. They got rid of the avocado appliances years ago yet, when you invest in good furniture, even if it is in the 70’s, you tend to keep it.  Same with “stuff”.  Now all of that era’s stuff is seen as retro and it is popular again.  And that’s a good thing because much of what I am taking to the Good Will is retro heaven – sure to be a hot seller!!

Donations of note include a Super Shooter cookie press, a Pyrex Bake-a-Round bread pan (in original packaging!), a micro steamer and the original hand-propelled Smart Chopper!    And boy, those church circles, ladies clubs and schools sure did publish a ton of cookbooks in those days!  I halved mom’s collection and am keeping two for myself.  The New Joys of Jell-O 1974 edition and the 1957 Storz Brewing Company Deluxe Cookbook are sure to be collector’s items and they are MINE!  Along with an early ‘80s Peanuts metal lunch box, which is technically my sister’s, and a mosaic ashtray.  All in all, more was kept than donated and organization reigns once again.

Oh, so, the day of silence.  Was a no thang.  Uneventful.  Quite easy actually.  Evidently I have come to terms with my new reality and the day of silence simply enabled me to organize it a bit more.  My Mid-century Modern self is new again, I am retro – sure to be a hot seller!