Dave – I’ve been busier than a bee. Many say I’m the energizer bunny, but my battery is running low. Am still at it – getting mom and dad’s place ready for an estate sale. Doing it all myself. Have been at it since early December. Have hauled roughly 1300 pounds of paper out of the house, about 2/3 went to recycling and 1/3 had to go to the certified shredding company. Messed up a thumb joint, elbow and upper arm and shoulder over it. Self inflicted of course, and learned all too late to simply hire the church’s youth group to haul stuff for me. So, when I had gone through everything in the basement, I “hired” them to haul it all up to the main floor of the house, garage and back patio where it would be sold. I directed them to the three areas from the top of the stairs as I watched what they had in hand. I made a nice donation to their summer youth mission trip.
It went well and in 75 minutes, they had it all upstairs – it would have taken me a month to get it all done the condition my body was in at the time. All has healed well from behaving and not lifting 100 pounds loads anymore. Funny how that happens.
Have everything inside the house placed on shelves and tables and all priced and ready to go, and moved into the garage last Friday. Have 2/3 of it placed where I want it – themes of course – car stuff, electrical, hardware, tools, yard and garden – and inside, an electrical room with lots of vintage items like slide and film strip projectors, cassette audio equipment, reel to reel tapes – you name it.
I packed up about 30 boxes from my house and took it over to sell, and both boys are going through their stuff while home and Chris has taken about 10 boxes over to the house to sell. I figure if we’ve got it to sell, we might as well do it all at the same time as I’m so sick and tired of going through stuff, I only want ONE sale. I’m sure many classmates can relate to what I’m going through, and I’m grateful I’m retired and have the time. Lately, to get it all done before family arrives for a wedding, I’ve been working 7 hours days 6 days a week. I’ll finish about a week ahead of schedule.
Dad never threw out anything. In the garage, I found every frying pan that mom ever threw out that he stuck up in a cupboard. Inside dad’s work room in a portable storage unit, was every tie he’s ever owned. 87 to date and that doesn’t include what he moved to my place when they both moved in with me right at Thanksgiving. I’m going to hire someone to make me a tie quilt, or maybe 4 lap quilts with smaller areas of the ties so that each of the grandkids can have one and me, too.
Dad continues to do well physically – I’ve gotten him to gain 15 pounds, but his mind is getting worse, although he doesn’t have Alzheimer’s – just dementia. That’s bad enough to deal with. Hard for him to follow conversations. But, he loves my two cats and they have been so therapeutic for him. Mom is facing hip replacement surgery July 10. We’ve had a few words over bringing more and more stuff to my place, but we’re done now. Hopefully she won’t want to bring what doesn’t sell – there’s no more room. I told her I don’t want to go through this all over again when they are gone, minus all the paper work – it’s got to stop sometime. So hard for people in their 80’s to part with “things”.
I’m downsizing my stuff already just so my boys don’t have to go through this with me at all. It’s been a daunting job on my own for sure.
My oldest son Chris marries on Cinco de Mayo, May 5, and the estate sale will be May 17-19, and then clear out what didn’t sell and put the house on the market. Can’t wait for it all to be over with – the sale that is, and taking care of two properties on my own.
Family will be home from California and Colorado. My youngest of course is the best man. Beck ( my niece) and her entire family are in the wedding – her husband Alex will be one of the groomsmen, Beck is reading Bible passages, and her children, Katya and Kosta, are flower girl and ring bearer. I found a great designer pants/dress from Nordstroms, a fancy embroidered handerchief hemmed chiffon jacket to wear over it, and found shoes while out and about one day in just 10 minutes – nothing that happens to me ever!!! So, I’m good to go. My family won’t recognize me in such a nice outfit. Will simply pony my hair as usual – not into “updo’s” – but will wear a nice black bow in it to dress it up a bit. After the wedding, I’ll be donating my hair again – I do that about every 2 years – 11 inches – it grows fast.
That’s about it from here. Just busy, busy, busy with the folks’ house. Haven’t really done much other than that, so am looking forward to some down time and maybe some traveling once it’s over with. I need a good vacation, and a very long massage!!! LOL
Feel free to share with the class. Take care.
