Out Of Chaos

My husband had grand plans for this classic 1961 Volvo (it looks like a much older model car, doesn’t it?). He bought it in 1996 and began acquiring the parts to re-build the motor, rework the interior, and give it a complete makeover. He dreamed of mint green fenders and a cream color body. It would have rocked! Man, it would have been fun to “do the drag” in that baby.

Unfortunately, the dream didn’t come to fruition. In 1996 his two boys were six and thirteen years old. There were other (more important) things to do; there were other places to spend the time and money it would have taken to restore this car. In the seven years I have known my husband, he has only had the time to work on if once or twice.

As we work at downsizing our lives and simplifying our existence, my husband has come to realize that this dream car is a bit of a nightmare. There is nothing simple about having a classic car! After it is restored (which could take a year or more of commitment), it will need constant maintenance. It must be registered, inspected, licensed, and insured — yet most of the time it would just sit in the driveway! It is not a practical car to drive every day.

In the meantime, it sits in our driveway and the numerous parts to repair it take up an inordinate amount of space in our sheds!

Deciding to get rid of the Volvo was a major hurdle for my husband. He said he felt as if he had “failed,” because he didn’t finish the project.

I’m trying to get him to look at giving up the Volvo as a victory. He no longer even wants to work on greasy machinery in the Texas heat. He shouldn’t bind himself to a dream he had twelve years ago — he’s changed since then. He has other interests now, and I’m proud that he’s able to realize that and set this one free. Maybe the Volvo will come into the hands of someone who has the time to restore it and love it the way it deserves.

This Volvo is a very large example of a problem that we packrats have. We become emotionally involved in those unfinished projects, and have a hard time giving them up. As we grow older, and our interests change, we can’t give up the projects for fear of losing part of our essence.

So, we wallow in the clutter!

I’ve got my share of unfinished projects to “set free,” as well. Mine just aren’t this big!

Tags: Transportation, Uncategorized by Shelly Kneupper Tucker
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Difficult, difficult, difficult…
   Easy, easy, easy…
Neither difficult nor easy.
          -Zen Buddhism

As I work at sorting clutter, I occasionally feel as if I’m floundering. We have so much that is just junk, and I don’t always know what to do with it. I get overwhelmed.

I was ready to just give up at about the time I found the above quotation. I sat down and pondered it for a bit. It seemed silly at first. The more I thought about it, though, the more I understood that it is true. If you want to accomplish a task (whether it is de-cluttering the house or preparing a speech), you need the proper attitude.

One step at a time, I’m continuing to de-clutter and organize. I’m chanting this quote as a mantra.

Tags: Uncategorized, simplified life by Shelly Kneupper Tucker
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My brother was overjoyed when I called him earlier this week and asked, “Do you want these old 45s that belonged to Mom?”

His voice was filled with wonder and awe, “You still have them? Yes, I want them.”

We talked about some of the records that came from the store my mother had back in the early 1960s. We always got the newest music at our house. The Big Bopper, Ray Price, Frankie Valle, Fats Domino, The Viscounts…all of them are there, as well as many you would never recognize. We loved them! Our house was always rocking with music back then.

I even have some of the plastic record adapters we used so they would fit on our record player spindle. My brother was amazed and awed that this “blast from the past” could be his. It gave me great pleasure to please him with an item that has been hiding in the back of my closet. He will enjoy them much more than I have. I’m only keeping one record: “Night Train” by The Viscounts (because Momma and Daddy used to dance to that).

As I am in the midst of de-cluttering the closets, I’m finding many more treasures. They are things I have hoarded just because of the memories attached to them. What good are they doing anyone hidden in the dark recesses of my hall closet?

For instance, there was a whole shelf of children’s books that my kids had when they were young: The Berenstein Bears, Sesame Street, and Dr. Seuss. Most of them are paperback, and all of them are well loved. I’ve been keeping them because they belonged to my children, and for no other reason. They have no monetary value.

I have two great-nieces who are just the right age to enjoy them. I rarely get to see those little girls, and I’ve decided that Aunt Shelly will send them packages throughout the summer with books and any other little tidbits I find that they might enjoy. I don’t know how my niece will feel about that. I’m only keeping a handful of books that were special favorites.

I don’t know who I’ll find to take this orange Texas ware off my hands. They were my Momma’s dishes, and I love them. When she died, I insisted that they be mine! I didn’t get any arguments. I’ve had them for three years and never used them once, because they need to be hand washed to survive. Deciding to get rid of them is a major hurdle. I’m only keeping the round serving dish as a memory.

This is slow progress, but it’s happening. My house is beginning to shift!

Tags: Give Stuff A New Home, Uncategorized by Shelly Kneupper Tucker
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