anne's chit chat

The last time I was home I cleaned out my old closet — which had been used as a time capsule of my life thus far.

Bins and boxes full of old photos, diplomas, notes, books, art projects, and cards. Stacks and folders of school memories and forgotten sport t-shirts, birthday presents, and locked Hello Kitty diaries.

To be completely honest I have been knowingly storing my past at my parents house. This is not good.

It was exhausting going through everything.
Eventually I just loaded the stuff back in their respective boxes and put the lid on.
We loaded everything into my car.

Don’t get me wrong – I am a huge advocate for de-cluttering.
I try to live with this mantra -

“Remember IT. But throw THAT away.”

The thing is, I don’t know what to do with all this stuff! I don’t think I can throw it all away. These are my childhood memories, you can’t just thrown them away! Or can you….?

I saved a birthday present that my best friend Katherine gave me when I turned five.
It is a rock with rocks glued on top of it.
A rock.
With rocks glued on top of it.
I have saved a rock with rocks glued on top of it for 25 years!

It might be one of the best presents I have ever received.

Is saving a rock different than saving Caladryl lotion for 25 years?

What do I do? What do I keep? What do I pitch? Where do I put all these memories? How important is the tangible object? Can I just take a photo of it? Why do we feel like we have to save? Am I saving it for my future kids? Will my ‘future’ kids even care? Will I even care in 25 more years?

Oh crap. What do I do with all this crap?

Let’s call the whole thing off.

Yesterday, a tornado touched down in Minneapolis.

We heard the sirens in St. Paul but all we suffered was a total downpour and some howls from Judy.

Luckily, it seems that no injuries occurred and clean up began right away.

Growing up I thought tornadoes were men in fire trucks, driving around, throwing knives and tomatoes at houses.

Tornado DOES sound like tomato.

She pulled down a red box from the top shelf.

I couldn’t imagine what could be so special to get its own box…

Emerging from the red box has potential to be the best Christmas Sweater ever.

In all its glory and shoulder pads!  It is simply amazing.

I paired it with a hot red purse and KILLER red pumps.

I think I’ve got myself a perfect outfit.

For Halloween.