Spring cleaning

 

The leaves have finally made an appearance here in Southcentral Alaska, and they are certainly welcome. It wasn't a very harsh winter, as winters go, but it was nonetheless painfully long, as most winters in the north are.

Along with the leaves, the annual ritual known as spring cleaning has started. Actually Jan was working diligently a few weeks ago, wiping down the walls and going through the closets, sorting out things she didn't feel she needed anymore. Inevitably, she'll run out of her things, and start looking at mine. I never like it when that happens.

I'm not a hoarder, but I can't see getting rid of something that I might need in the future just because it might be a little bit old, or even very old. We have a bookshelf full of books that we've already read, and while I seldom re-read most books, some of them I do. The others I can hardly stand the thought of parting with. When I look at some of Jan's books, I can see where getting rid of them would provide for more space for future books, but I doubt she'd see things my way.

I've got tools in the garage that I haven't used in years, but about the time I get rid of them, I'll need one of them, and then if I've given them away, I'll have to replace them, at a much higher price no doubt.

When I gave the boat away a few years ago, I loaded up a few boxes with fishing gear that I'd never used and shipped it up. I also have the compass from the auto pilot that will never function again. I keep thinking that some day I'll mount it on a fancy piece of wood and have a conversation piece for the table beside my chair.

I've got a bow and arrow I haven't shot in so many years that no doubt the string is rotted by now. All it needs is a new string though, and it's good as new. I think I've  put it in my will for one of my grandsons. It makes me wonder, will anyone want the things I've left them after I'm gone. I'm sure they'll want the money and a few other things, but I doubt they'll put the same value that I have on so many of my cherished possessions.

I was looking through the top drawer of my dresser the other day, just so I could tell Jan that I'd done it. Sometimes it's a good thing to do, look through the overlooked spaces to see what treasures you valued once.

Amongst the various items that I place some significance on, I found several pairs of new shoe laces. Can't very well get rid of those. Roughly eight packs of Trident original gum, with an additional carton in reserve. You can never have too much of that. Several pairs of scissors, three or four pairs of reading glasses, which I'm not sure what grade they are. I suppose I could get rid of them, but what if all my other ones broke and I was in the middle of a good book some night? Any strength of glasses would be better than none. I've got a few loose hoochies I should probably put in my tackle box. I have a pen and a book mark from a friend who lived in Ireland, but used to visit for a few years. I've never used either. In the using, they might get worn out and discarded. There is a Double Crisp chocolate candy still in the original Christmas package from many years ago. I can't recall why I didn't eat it at the time, but I kept it for some  reason, and until I recall why, I can't toss it. There is also a Sponge Bob sucker that one of the kids got me years ago, when I used to spend quality time in front of the television watching my favorite cartoon. How I wish I had thought up the idea of an underwater character for a cartoon. That sucker will probably be worth something some day, if one of the great grandkids don't eat it. I have one of my father-in-law's knives from many years ago. It's in a sheath and will never be used again. There are several small containers with assorted coins and medallions of some sort, along with some AAA batteries and a small set of assorted screwdrivers to fix my glasses if the screws come out. It seems like I've had three or four of those sets, and never had them work on any glasses I ever owned. There is a pair of Nytril gloves which I am not sure why I have. They're the kind that doctors wear before they give you a prostate exam. I'm sure as hell not giving myself one, nor do I ever intend to give anyone else one, but I guess they could come in handy if I was staining some furniture or something, so I better keep them. I have the Coleman watch that I was wearing back in 2000, when the plane I was in crashed into Lynn Canal that February. I loved that watch. Of course being immersed in saltwater ruined it, and they no longer made them. It's still marking the time we crashed, a permanent reminder of the day my life was spared. I've got a Far Side calendar from years ago. I was a big fan of Gary Larson's Far Side cartoon. Along with The Born Loser, they made reading the newspaper worthwhile every day. There is a letter I wrote to myself when I was in Al Hill's science class back in Hoonah. I was a spec-ed teacher's aid then. He had the class write ourselves a letter and keep it for five years before opening so see what changes had occurred. I did open it eventually, and was surprised at what I'd written. I need to look at it again. The world has changed a lot since then. I have a cloth bag of pocket watches the kids or grandkids got me over the course of various  Christmases. I don't use watches anymore. Aside from doctors appointments or church, I don't really need to know the time. I just know that I'm getting older with each passing day. 

I imagine some day, after I've passed, one of the kids will look in my drawers and closets and wonder why I hung on to all that "junk" As the saying goes, one mans treasure is another man's garbage. Perhaps they'll look back at this post and realize there was a reason I didn't discard these things.