6 Word Fridays: Kept

Thanks Melissa -- for more entries, see http://www.makingthingsup.com/

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I think I've kept every single

solitary piece of paper ever touched

by me, someone I love, or

well, anyone.  Journals, wedding programs, letters,

countless scraps of paper. These pale

in comparison to the pictures. Oh

yes, the pictures -- thousands of them.

Hauled to six addresses in thirteen years.

A small cedar box holds things

precious beyond words -- pictures, obituaries, announcements

each of them tied to someone

who was or is very important. 

But this is more than that --

it is the 42 inch tall

box filled with paper, photos, memories.

I've kept them all, in a

box for the last thirteen years.

Added to it, sure, many times.

Subtracted?  Never -- not until this moment.

I finally tackled the memory mountain

determined what was to be kept

and what could be given away.

It was freeing, frightening and necessary.

I have memories in my head

I kept those, safe and sound.

Paper isn't memories.  Photos aren't memories.

Scraps of paper are not memories.

Those are remnants of time passed.

So I kept all my memories

Kept some photos, paper, letters.

And let the rest say goodbye.

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Wow, Melissa, you are good with the timely topics of late.  I spent last Saturday wading through my guest room, determining what could be kept and what could go to trash, Goodwill or friends. 

I mailed off 10 letters yesterday -- to friends -- with photos that they may not have seen or knew existed.  I hope they enjoy them.  I did when I found them, but I also knew that I was not going to keep them further -- so I blessed someone else.  If you are someone who received a letter with photos -- just know that you do not have to keep them 13 years in a box -- you can look at them, enjoy them and let them go if you like. Do not be strangled by the tyrrany of stuff -- I am trying not to be.