Pinned to the bulletin board in my mother's office is a piece of paper that my brother wrote up, years ago, in preparation for a big garage sale. It remains a useful set of edicts, as we putter around, trying to begin to clean out our mother's house.
That said, it's nearly impossible to refrain from aimless archeology. I found my "Five Year" diary, locked and missing its key. Unable to resist, I cut the strap and spent far too long looking through my deep thoughts from 1970 to 1977 (yeah, more than five years). It ranges from the banal to the ridiculous, and includes crushes on a shocking number of boys. Today being May 24, I had to check and see what I was doing on that day: in 1972, at age eleven, my mother took me to the ballet (which means that she probably took me out of school since it was a Wednesday), and I went home on the train alone.We found a file folder of jury duty notices and receipts, and a wonderful letter in which my mother asked for a postponement of jury duty.
And we threw away many many pairs of grimy tube socks, and some eye shadow that dated to, oh, 1966? Let's put it this way: I remember that eye shadow from playing dress-up as a kid.
Your mom, she's something special, you know that? I don't know if that letter got her out of jury duty, but I bet they were delighted to read it nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteDid the letter work?
ReplyDeleteI second Kelly's emotion. Did it work?
ReplyDeleteWhat a great lady. The note is superb, and so is your brother's list.
ReplyDeleteI must check my eyeshadow.
No Undue Sentiment. This is a true motto for living.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite line is "unrelated to any of the above" ... as if any one of the above weren't reason enough!
ReplyDeleteOh, and what is the "intensity rule?"
ReplyDeleteI love the last line as well.
ReplyDeleteGod, this is my life in a few years - throwing out makeup she's kept since my childhood. Odd hot water bottles that have dry rotted. Decades-long expired chocolate flavored diet bars (speed, basically). The thought makes me need some antidepressants. Or maybe jury duty to keep my mind off it all.
Your brother loses me a bit after number four, but I love the list anyway.
ReplyDeleteI got out of jury duty because I am a primary caretaker of under school aged children. I heard that this is no longer worthy of exemption, but am certain the state of CT is not offering childcare. Hmph.
that must be the best get out of jury duty excuse letter ever. :-) i'll be they've preserved it at the place where those letters are sent. it's probably framed.
ReplyDeletethe last one is priceless.
aimless archaeology rocks.
What emotions you must be feeling as you dig through the years.
ReplyDeleteThese items are fascinating. Love your diary.
i LOVE that garage sale list
ReplyDeleteUmm...can I use your mom's letter? I hate jury duty. I know, I know. I'm a terrible citizen.
ReplyDeleteI love archaeological finds. I do the same thing as you, and look at old diaries and journals to see what I was up to this same date that year. It's interesting to see how far we've come, and how much we haven't really changed.
Did you go around all day saying "To hell with it!" after you found that list?
ReplyDeleteYour mother was obviously a helluva gal.
ReplyDeletei find that all my journals from my youth are filled with crushes, crushes, and more crushes. I'm pretty sure I thought about other things. didn't I? sigh.
ReplyDeleteI need to try out #4 in a variety of circumstances. I'll let you know how it goes.
ReplyDeleteNo saying "to hell with it?" That's one of the few responses that applies in almost every situation!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you're doing ok...this process seems like it might be painful.
I have been saying this over & over again...
ReplyDelete'Magpie!!! This is just ALL too MUCH." And I can only sigh. (loudly)
May I please have a copy of that note? I do hope you are keeping that. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI loved this post! Funny little treasures.
ReplyDeleteOh, I recognize myself in this post. Clearing out my mom's house was impossible for a sentimental hoarder like me. I once wrote a post about keeping a jar of lineament from the 60s b/c the smell of it was such a strong memory trigger. I also made the mistake of using the same lineament on a pulled glute shortly after I returned home with it. The lesson in all this: don't use 40-yr-old lineament on your ass.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I LOVE the jury duty letter. I wonder if it worked.
Oh I do hope you kept that note to postpone juror duty. That was priceless!
ReplyDeleteOHMYGOD, tell me you are keeping that jury letter forever! That is the best!
ReplyDeleteAnd the diary. You kept the diary, right?
Aren't you glad I wasn't there to help?
"No undue sentiment," huh? I'd guess complying with that particular rule is a little hard under the circumstances. Thinking of you.
ReplyDeleteI love the "no new hobbies" line on your brother's list - I should get that tattooed someplace on my person as a permanent reminder.
ReplyDeleteYour mom sounds like she was so interesting. I can't even imagine how hard this must be right now - but I know that my brother and I are already shuddering over how hard it will be to clear out my parents' (both hoarders!) house.
The jury duty letter should be framed!
ReplyDeleteOK, that letter belongs in a movie!
ReplyDeleteOh, does she ever remind me of my own mother. As you already knew.
ReplyDeleteok so that last line? her clarifying her meds as unrelated to you guys?
ReplyDeleteheelarious.
fabulous letter
ReplyDeleteThose are the kinds of treasures I love. We can't wear them on our fingers or hang them in our closet, but they are more real than anything we can buy. How lucky you are that she kept those things: true indicators of her person, not just trinkets she liked one random day at the store.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it's possible to refrain from Aimless Archeology and still be human.
ReplyDeleteGreat letter. Please frame it.
I have that same 5 year diary and it amuses to post pictures of the entries on my blog from time to time :-)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this letter. LOVE IT.
ReplyDelete