Yesterday I was told that in a college sociology class if one does NOT have a refrigerator one is considered in poverty. THAT is the criteria. IF you cannot afford the machine or the electric for a refrigerator.
Hmmmmmmm
Material type things have been on my mind lately, since so much of what I run into today around the house reminds me that I did not put it there. Even though it was “ours” it was not “mine” to start.
I had a similar conversation with an old dear friend who was north this past weekend. He originally had scheduled time to see Dean on his trip home — since those plans had changed, we did a little hanging out instead. Took some time to catch up, and remember. His family home is filled with three generations of stuff. Some of it is pretty cool stuff … arrowheads and powder horns dating back a couple hundred years. There are also just papers and “stuff” that one wonders why it has not been sent to charity by now so that someone may get use of what is just lying around.
How do you choose? How do you choose what is worthwhile to save for another generation — to learn, to share, to remember. What do you choose to recycle, and share with those that have none at all? If the boundary line is a refrigerator for what we NEED then it even becomes that much more vexing.
I think everyone is so individual with this. Really. I think the way we live in this country accounts for some of the “stuff” we have in our houses. Some of the things that we just cannot do without. I know without this computer in front of me I would probably not know what to do with myself AND the business/money making aspect of life for me would be about done. I also know that for me, I do not want to be tied to too much stuff. I do not want to have to maintain too much, Dean and I talked and talked about where we were going to go on vacations and how experiences and memories for us and for the kids were so much more important than keeping a ton of stuff. At the same time, he found it very hard to let go of everything he had already accumulated. This house and the shed which seem now more like an Egyptian type tomb are everyday reminders of that.
We had talked about taking two trips this coming up calendar year. We were going to finally get to Mardi Gras in New Orleans — take a couple of days and just have some no-children interrupted fun and then later in the year we wanted to take all four children on a road trip, seeing nature, possibly some national parks, hiking and spending some time at the ocean. We really were not sure how we were going to accomplish everything, but the dream was there.
I have also been told … just yesterday in fact … not to lose my dreams… to keep them alive .. that they were still very possible.
More than stuff .. I still want those memories. … I want to photo them, and record them .. and hand down bunches of stories and lessons and good times from those photos — I do not think I will ever be rich in terms of “silver and gold” — But I do have a refrigerator, making me much more well off than a ton of people around the world. Plan on using what I do have “extra” for trips, and memories .. and the photo/computer equipment to keep it alive for the children.
Below is the most recent memory.
Last night for Halloween it rained, and rained and rained. My parents traditionally come to the house and hand out candy while I go out with the children. They only had ONE person last night with the rain. I put the little ones and Lloyd in the car. Lloyd, bless his heart, would run in the rain with the little brothers up to the door way getting drenched himself. Galen and Cian had a complete blast. They would jump out of the car, race towards the door, knock and then YELL “TRICK OR TREAT!” I heard thank yous and complements on how cute they all were, and then while racing back they would be yelling “THANK YOU” — “HAPPY HALLOWEEN” — Giggling and running and being very LOUD. Michael was able to stop over after class and have the traditional “John’s Pizza and Wing” Halloween Dinner.
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| My sons: the Sith, Barney Stinson, Superman and Spiderman |
Remembering to enjoy EVERYTHING — even when it rains and rains. Keeping Dreams alive. Dean leaving is a very big “rain” but if I let that take away the dreams I will become washed down the pipes with the rain. I would much rather “sing”. — The goal I for which continually work.