Downsizing

I had a phone call from a couple who was ready to sell their home. They were ready to "downsize". "Downsize" is the word for going from your big, grown up home to your smaller old person's home.

I am not quite there yet but I imagine the time will come sooner than I expect. I don't think it is an overly joyful prospect for most people. 

First of all there is all the stuff. We all collect so much of it. By the time we downsize, many of us have been in our home for 20, 30, sometimes 60 years. There is so much work to do just sorting through, getting rid of and deciding what stuff to keep.

If the stuff didn't mean anything it might be easier. If you have ever volunteered at a charity rummage sale you probably sorted without much emotion. The problem with downsizing is that so much of that stuff holds a special memory for the person doing the sorting.

Every old sports trophy is reminiscent of the joy our little guy felt as he beamed at the photographer, a proud ten year old who had just won first place. Every box filled with random construction paper makes us want to go through it with care. Wasn't it just yesterday that my 8 year old daughter was writing poems to me because I was  the "best mommy" ever?

Pretty soon, if we haven't already, some of us will be doing our mini version of this. We will sort through our Christmas ornaments. We will pull out and unwrap the expensive fancy ones and we will be glad if they are not broken. But the homemade ones our kids brought home from school every year will take a little longer to examine. "What year was that again?"  "Who was his teacher?"  "I remember her wearing that dress!" The memories will wash over quickly as I (not ''we" anymore, but "I") decorate the tree. The Charlie Brown music will be playing and I will still be o.k. because I know that my kids will all be home this year with me. Next year the ornaments will go right back into the same old box and back into the basement.

I am not downsizing yet, but it is right around the corner. By the way, when my time comes, I am heading straight for the beach!