March 2018 SOLC–Day 18
A huge thank you to Two Writing Teachers for all that they do to create an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write, learn, share and grow.
http://www.twowritingteachers.org
If you’ve read some of my recent slices, you may have noticed that my husband is into a “clearing out” phase now that we’re empty nesters. I’m resisting. Just a little. Cleaning out the house can feel liberating (Yes, I know these are just things.) and can yield some interesting discoveries (ew!), but all these things he wants to trash/sell/giveaway come with memories attached. (See slices here, and here)
We live in a town that has a Recycling Barn. In addition to dropping off your plastics and papers, you can drop of re-useable items that you no longer need or want. There’s a sort of shop in the back corner with shelves and bins for books, games, clothes, knick knacks, sports and kitchen equipment, etc. We add our items to the collection regularly, and I’ve made some amazing finds there (my Melitta electric kettle, a brand new three-step folding ladder, unopened Himalayan salt shot glasses for a tequila-loving friend, fabulous amateur paintings, etc.). Visiting the Recycling Barn is one of my weekend chores and pleasures. You never know what you might find!
In recent weeks, Kurt (my husband) has taken over this duty. Yesterday, as I was organizing the recycling, I thought, “Maybe it’s a good thing that Kurt’s doing the recycling these days. That way I won’t be tempted to bring more stuff into the house. If I don’t see it, I can’t want it.” And off I went to tackle my list of errands.
I returned a couple of hours later, laden with grocery bags and assorted items. Kurt opened the door for me and I turned away from the family room and went straight into the kitchen to dump them unceremoniously on the floor. I headed out again for another load. Kurt dogged my steps.
“Did you see my score?” he asked.
“What? No. What score?” I asked him. He was grinning from ear to ear.
“It’s in the family room. Come see! I found the coolest chair at the Recycling Barn. It’s amazing!” His words tumbled over each other in his excitement.
I burst out laughing. “Are you kidding me? Aren’t you the one who’s trying to get rid of everything?”
“I know, I know,” he said, “but it’s great!”
Dumping the second load of bags in the kitchen, I followed him into the family room to check out “the score”. There, on the carpet in the middle of the room, was his find.
“Look!” he said. He sat in it and tilted it this way and that. “It’s really comfortable!”
He extolled its virtues–the color (“I love this color! I could have a whole room decorated in this color!”), the comfort, the craftsmanship! He was like a little kid with a new toy. So excited!
Then sitting in the chair, he turned to me a bit sheepishly, “I even knew when I got it that we had nowhere to put it. I just couldn’t resist it. It’s a great chair!”
It really is a great chair. Except we have nowhere to put it.
Nix the comfort zone 
Oh, the temptation and he is being green, recycling soneone else’s. Sometimes cleaning and sorting just makes room for more stuff.
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At least he laughed at himself, too. Hopefully I’ll have a bit more leverage when it comes to item negotiation now!
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Fun to read! It does look like a great chair. Thanks for including the photo! I might have been tempted to do the same thing. We are trying (unsuccessfully) to downsize….I have never been a minimalist. Can you really teach an old dog new tricks????
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I’ve got to admit, I like my stuff. It’s not even exciting stuff, but it’s full of my memories, and I’m also slightly change averse. At any rate, I’m working on learning those new tricks!
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Haha, love this and nice score, Kurt!
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He’s quite pleased with himself. Still hasn’t figured out where to put it though. lol
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I’m confident you will find a place!
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I’m just hoping he doesn’t displace something I’m attached to to make room for his new treasure! 😉
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haha! So much for cleaning! Hopefully he doesn’t recycle something you treasure! Your dialogue made me giggle- I was just as confused as you were when he wanted you to check out his “score” Ha!
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He is so impulsive that it scares me! lol
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HaHaHa. Loved reading this!! Your ending lines are perfect. Says it all. Here’s to Kurt finding a spot for his chair.
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Update–the chair is still sitting in the middle of the family room. lol
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Hilarious! Isn’t this the way it goes? I can so see my husband doing the same thing!
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It’s good to know that I’m not alone!
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Ermehgerd this cracks me up!! I know where I’d put that chair—LOL! Good luck with all that decluttering, it’s certainly not easy.
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I’m not attached to the things, per se, it’s the associated memories that stop me in my tracks!
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Ha!! Good luck with your continuing de-cluttering! 🙂
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I’d just as soon put a halt to some of this decluttering. I can’t take time to consider it carefully when I’m in the midst of school chaos. I keep protesting that it’s a summer project!
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Hahaha! I love the way the tables turned. Really, the best kind of scores are for love, not practicality. And now you have a defense the next time you just can’t get rid of something. Heeheehee!
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He was so thrilled with the chair that it just tickled me. I love that he could totally see how ridiculous it was to get it…but still couldn’t resist it.
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We each have an “eye”for a find. Great slice.
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It really is a great chair. 🙂
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Now yo can remind Kurt of this score next time you find a treasure!
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I think the reminder’s going to be sitting in the middle of the family room for a while! lol
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It’s so great that neither of you are into perfection and “keeping score”. Life is what it is. Right now, my motto is “If something comes into the house, something has to go. EVEN.” 🙂
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Ah! Please don’t talk to Kurt! I don’t like that motto! lol
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Ye to recycling barn and the cool find. Tell Kurt, I have the brother of this chair in dark wood color. One of the retiring teachers gave that to me long time back.
To more sharing and finding.
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Hahaha! I think you have a get out of jail free card for bringing home new random items next time you do the Recycling Barn trip next time!
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