Posts
Anyone familiar with the movie The Jerk probably remembers the scene when Navin R. Johnson [Steve Martin] is leaving home.
"And that's it and that's the only thing I need, is this. I don't need this or this. Just this ashtray. And this paddle game, the ashtray and the paddle game and that's all I need. And this remote control. The ashtray, the paddle game, and the remote control, and that's all I need. And these matches. The ashtray, and these matches, and the remote control and the paddle ball. And this lamp. The ashtray, this paddle game and the remote control and the lamp and that's all I need. And that's all I need too. I don't need one other thing, not one - I need this."
It goes on a little more with some additional items. This very scene plays out every time I pack for Mérida. HammockMan and I agree we don’t need to pack up crates full of stuff for our new life in Mérida. We will take a few clothes and start fresh. I buy into this idea until it is time to pack. I get a little panicky before each trip. What is the one thing I would like to have for the rest of my life? I pace through the house looking for the items that have the most meaning - and that fit within those pesky airline restrictions. The mix of things that have made the cut is a bit odd.
This reminds me of the death of my maternal grandmother. All of the cousins, fourteen in all, were allowed to pick one thing from her house after the funeral. The impetuous ones grabbed quickly. The worse choice I witnessed was some fuzzy-headed chicken with liquid in its belly that caused it to peck lower and lower as the liquid moved to its head. [Why did my grandmother have one of those?]
I made my choice slowly, contemplated all that was there. The one item that would forever remind me of Ann Johnston’s life was a glass dog. [You’re probably thinking I should have taken the chicken.] The glass dog sat on her entertainment center. It was mostly blue with some other colors deep in its body and a red glass tongue. It was perfect for an 11 year old that knew she would have it the rest of her life. Until her first husband slammed a door on the wall with the entertainment center and the dog fell to its death in a bazillion pieces a mere twelve years later. I burst into tears. I wanted the dog forever. I am sure it was because he felt so bad his reaction was ‘I don’t know why a stupid glass dog is such a big deal’. It was at the time.
The packing stakes are raised now because I am about to make my final trip as a visitor. After two and a half years of being The Jerk, the final items have to be decided. If I still had the glass dog it would already be in Mérida – yet I have somehow gotten by without it for 25 years. I have never forgotten my grandmother without my one memento of her life.
Do I really need this stuff?
La Dulce
7 comments:
Oh, does this strike a chord for me, as I mentally keep adding things to my "gotta bring 'em" list - and then striking them off again. Two dogs and my "favorite" 1000 books - Grandma's Depression glass goblets - oh, photo albums, of course, and the wind chimes No. 4 Son gave me last Christmas...
At least I decided against furniture... termites... vbg
Thats funny, Keith and I say this all the time. I love that movie and I have seen it dozens of times. However, we travel light and live light as well, so when we say, "that is all I need" we generally mean it.
I understand exactly what you are going through. Photos and books are on the top of my list of must haves. After that specialized things like tools (my sewing machine!). Life has helped me to pare down my possessions so I didn't have too many sentimental items to sort through (I've been through a fire, a flood and several burglaries)so it was a bit easier.
Good luck with your decision making.
regards,
Theresa
The Lord loves a workin' man.
I think the must have list is different for everyone. I gave up family antiques with no problem, but books were hard, especially the resource ones, and those I have really missed. Knitting encyclopedia, History of Art, homesteading books that tell how to make anything, cookbooks etc etc. Kitchen stuff, too. I brought my half sheet pans thinking I'd never find them here and they are easy to buy at Sams. But nice cookware, knives, silverware, salt and pepper grinders, etc are expensive and hard to find.
But the favorites are the favorites...I remember one "clean the house" show I watched where the host told the homeowner " these things aren't your mother" and it's true like you say, your memories are with you and you truly don't need mementos.
If you are really conflicted over something, maybe take a bunch of pictures of it and ask a friend to keep it for a year?
It sounds like an infinitesimally small shard of that crash is still in your heart, while at the same time, the whole and complete dog has always been with you.
Thank you all for your comments. Malcolm - yours made me laugh out loud.
For the rest of you, I am still sorting. Oddly enough I don't care much about photos other then the few framed ones I already moved. I have moved quite a few cookbooks despite not using them for years. In my Merida rebirth, I will be the creative cook I used to be.
Lucklily I have a big family across which I can disperse some of my 'treasures'.
The other thing that makes it easier is Hammock Man and I have spent much time there lacking for anything. Probably an indicator we have what we need. It might come down to each other and an adventurous spirit.
Rummy - you have a fine career in counseling ahead of you. You read this right.
Post a Comment