I am all tuckered out and I need a shower. That is probably more information than anyone really wants to hear from a boomer chick, but it's true. Welcome to day two of Clean Sweep at the Boomer household!
While RJ toiled away at the tile work in the downstairs powder room, my son and I tackled the garage. Now most people would think this is no big deal, but our garage is and has been for many years, a beast of burden that has weighed heavily on our psyche. We clean it out and it goes right back to the same old monster, packed to the gills, floor to ceiling with little makeshift pathways between the disarray in order to maneuver. I mean literally, our garage is like a pregnant rabbit -- stuff just keeps multiplying.
I have no recollection how this recent garage project began. I am too tired to remember. I am in a stupor, a WTF happened moment! I vaguely recall my son wanted to pack some of his grandpa's stuff so he could have some closet space. I freaked knowing that there was no place to store the packed containers. My son casually suggested that we clean out the garage and have another yard sale. One thing led to another and here I am today -- sore, tired and desperately in need of that shower.
My past experiences working with my son on projects hasn't been all that successful. Usually he is around to start the project, but then suddenly disappears, leaving the mess for me to finish. Of course, in those days he was younger, but my expectations of how this would all turn out were not very high. So, I have been in shock these past two days while he has buzzed around me like a bee in flight. Who has that kind of energy?
When this is over, it's over! I will never, ever buy too much, save too much or take anything off of someone else's hands. Craig's List is going to be my new BFF. Tomorrow I will be taking pictures of my Barbie dolls, yes mine, from the 1960's, my daughter's Cabbage Patch doll collection -- some are still in the original box, never opened and my son's Tonka trucks and rocking horse. There will be lots of other things going up on Craig's besides the vintage toys. And, lots will be going to Goodwill or the trash. Can you imagine finding a box with your maternity clothes in it? Well, I did that today and my youngest is going to be thirty! Who in the hell saves their maternity clothes? I should probably donate them to the Octomom!
The garage though has finally been emptied and storage now lines the walls for things we use and need. My son and RJ purchased a vintage workbench off of Craig's List today, installed extra cabinets we had hanging around, redid the electrical, and put up bicycle hooks. I know we still have a month of Sundays left though before we finish. I also know the neighbors are thinking where in the hell did they put all that stuff? This is the like the umpteenth time they have had a spring cleaning!
I really thought I had this clutter issue beat, but I now realize that despite the yard sales and seven dumpsters we rented over the past years, many things just went from the house to the garage. The garage was fertile ground for our multiplying junk and everyone else who stopped by and dropped something off! Honestly I was just too sentimental to part with most of the stuff, but that has all changed and I can say with certainty that Fred Sanford has indeed left the building!
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