Cathy Classics by Cathy Guisewite for May 16, 2019

My parents and I are all in the process of breaking through that mindset, as of last year, especially.

I had to break that ‘save it for later ’cause I may need it’ once I moved. Funny how much stuff you have that you don’t need when you have to pack it and carry it around.

I got rid of all that “stuff” when I moved last year. Finally accepted the fact that my kids don’t want it now, won’t want it when I’m gone, so why keep dragging that baggage …? I am so much happier now, and I guarantee that when I die, my kids will be so thankful I did all this for them so they don’t have to.

I remember when my parents gave up their house. 50 years of marriage & 7 children, all needing to be condensed to a tiny, 1-bedroom seniors apartment. They let us know that what we didn’t take was going to be gotten rid of. What killed me was that I wanted my mother’s teacup-&-saucer collection, but had no place to keep them myself, so I could only choose a few of my favorites. Then, last year, when my mother died, my father had to be further condensed to a single bedroom. It just about broke my heart.

My garage is half full of my kids’ stuff that they want ME to hold onto.

This one strikes home for a lot of people, I suspect. The older generations have a lot of stuff, the younger generations don’t want it, and the thrift shops are inundated. I think in the coming years there will be some companies that sell collectibles and knick knacks that will go out of business. We got rid of a lot of things when we cleaned out my mom’s house and I am trying to get rid of stuff from mine. Unfortunately it’s difficult to do because it has sentimental value and I truly value things that are old because they are better quality and they take me back to a different time. On the good side, I almost never buy new, cheaply made stuff so at least I’m not adding to my problem.

Hello Cathy friends! Happy Thursday! Have a great day!

This strip is really close to home for me. But I am saving that stuff in case I need it and I am still alive. I feel real sorry for my daughters if I die suddenly (I do plan to get rid of a lot over the next few years). And yes, some of that stuff does trigger happy memories so those kind of things will be the last to go – or never go until I do.

When Dad died a few years ago he had a whole house of memories for he and my Mother. We kept what also had memories for me (thereby increasing the stuff I have of course) and the rest we tried to sell at a garage sale. We did a good job, we raised enough money (about 2.5k) to sponsor a bench in his memory on the boardwalk. The things that did not sell we donated to the Salvation Army who were only too happy to come and pick it up.

No increase in the water level in the lake since yesterday. ‘They’ are predicting it has crested so will start to go down. Unfortunately we have a good wind from the south so the waves are higher than we like – plus a lot of driftwood is starting to pile up on the lawn again. Ah well, lots of firewood for the rest of the summer. Enjoy your day – we only have so many of them.

“If you didn’t have so much stuff, you wouldn’t need a house!”

“Have you ever noticed that other people’s stuff is shit and your shit is stuff!”

– Geroge Carlin – “A Place for My Stuff”

Yeah…don’t collect any of your own “stuff” Cathy, we’re going to unload all of our “stuff” on you.

Yup—I’ve been known to [cough, cough] hang onto a thing or two here at home, too.

HI, MOM. Hello, Clan.