And, that’s why I still have all of my college notebooks. Don’t want to make the same mistake twice! I must also tell you (and you will be proud) that fairly recently I threw out the large box of hard copy articles that I used when writing my thesis. For, you know, when I might need to reference that material. I’ve had the box since 1997. I did keep the actual thesis (totally bound, “old school” style with a green cover – I show my students and they get a kick out of it) and draft copies of chapters that my advisor edited….I love Ted. I thought….this is how I learned to write, I can’t throw out Ted’s edits! Right.

So now the battle rages on the homefront, big time. I have several boxes and grocery bags “in the ready” for reducing stuff around the house. Kid stuff, in particular. Now, don’t let this fool you, we have “many” a “special box” (wicker, plastic, cloth and otherwise) designated for specific types of “special things” and “special guys” (aka stuffed animals) and “special notes” and “special art” (I actually started taking pictures of the artwork, thought I might come up with a better strategy for preservation). I am inundated. And, to make matters worse, my girls can produce “special notes” and drawings like nobody’s business…just when I feel “on top” of the job, I’ve fallen behind and I have a rather large pile strategically set to the side, to “deal with.” I started looking around the girls’ room and I picked up a box of candy hearts from Valentine’s day, not too long ago, mind you – there were four left. I said to Maeve, “you’re done with these, aren’t you?” And she says to me, “But I LOVE them, you can’t throw them out.” And so the story goes…..little do the girls know that “one of these weekends” (I have to be in the mood, you know) that the “clutter buster” (aka Mommy) is coming into their rooms with empty bags in hand.

Since I, myself, am quite sentimental, you know that I’ll be letting the girlies put numerous items in “special boxes” for safe keeping. At least these items won’t be swallowing them up! And, my goal is to also get a bag or two of items to throw out. Wish me luck! Love ya, gal! xoxo