.... Coming into 2020 I have been reflecting back over the last few years and pondering on what I treasure and cherish in my life. And I have decided to make sure that I am making things that have been pulling at me happen. And continuing this blog happens to be one of these things....
The last couple of years have been full of new experiences even if they come from unwanted life happenings. But, even with the good and the bad it has made me realize that life is short, family is golden, who needs all this stuff ???
Let me explain .......
My dad is in his 80's and over the last couple of years he has suffered from many health issues and has had his house and home uprooted. But, he is doing great now!
Wow! nothing makes me feel old more than coming to the stage of life where you have to parent your parent. But, first, hooray for my sister, she keeps us all sane. My sister brings our mother's grace into every situation and reminds us we are family first. And although she does not ask for help, she is amazing! (we all should help a lot more). She has had the blessing and the unfortunate task of the day to day connections for our dad. I don't like that I don't spend enough time with my dad. Each week, I work thru the guilt of not having the time to spend more time with him and the rest of my family. I am very blessed to have 5 wonderful grandchildren and 3 great sons and daughters-in-love that bless my days with hugs and kisses and making memories.
Estate Sale Here! Since my dad's health does not allow him to live home alone it was important to get him into a safe place to enjoy his life. And then he was ready to have his children disperse the treasures of his life. ( well he was kinda ready) Moving thru the process of sorting and selling the contents of my dads house is an experience that for our family brought many tears, (but tears of joy), grand memories and treasures that we will pass onto the next generation. It also, brought a lot of " what the hxxx?" were our parents thinking when they bought this and that??? I highly recommend that when it is your time to work thru your family's estate that you do it yourself ----- it is a lot of work and worth each memory !!! Family is truly golden!
Who needs all this stuff? I do!!! I want to keep it all - all the items from my childhood that remind me of places we lived and people that are gone forever. The coffee table that our dog Pogo would slide across the bottom shelf and make scratches that my dad would have to repair. My mothers china & silverware that I always remember using for holiday dinners. The tools that my dad used to build furniture, a real airplane and a Model A Ford and more. Grandparents mantel clocks, paintings by my mother, my mothers sewing machine, rocking chairs from my grandparents lives, blankets, and so much more that I just cannot name. But, you can't keep it all and I have to share these items with my 4 other siblings. It took about 4 -6 months for the 5 kids to go thru my fathers house. There were days that we dug in and then there were weeks that we avoided this process. This was a hard process because it brought the end of an era in my life and a final decision that my dad was loosing his home that he built. Thank goodness that my little brother is moving into the house .... I could not bare to have this home, my family home being sold to a stranger.
So Cherish the treasures of your life! And what makes a treasure important ---- people! Going thru this has made me look at the things in my life. They are "things" unless they bring memories to the people in your life. And I am working thru my "stuff" to make sure that each item brings memories otherwise, I need to pass it on ....... Happy New Year!!
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