During Covid, I decided it was time to tackle these boxes. I knew going through everything would be emotional. I knew that it would bring back many great memories and some sad regrets. I knew it would make me remember things that I had forgotten. I knew these things would make me smile and sometimes frown. But, I also knew that every time I saw these boxes on the basement shelf, I felt frustrated with myself that I was avoiding facing my past.
It was time to tackle this project.
I admit - this project was 20 years past due. The bottom of the boxes were filled with stuff from my parents house that they returned to me when I moved in with John. I added to these boxes during the first years with John. Then, the boxes went into hibernation. We moved to our current house back in 2008 and I just moved the boxes; never opening them before the move and trying to ignore them after the move.
I decided to undertake this task in small doses. First, I took the boxes and separated the items into categories: photos, papers, and miscellaneous. During this time I tossed stuff that was damaged or easily pitched. After all, I no longer needed water damaged yearbooks, love letters from school boyfriends, napkins from my wedding day and origami fortune tellers from grade school. And, can anyone explain why I still had my egg "child" from high school?
I then put the boxes away for a bit, to mentally recover from this first round.
Round two: thin out the miscellaneous and paper items. I pitched more stuff and put together a box for charity/garage sale. Honestly, as I looked at the items again, I realized that if I hadn't wanted or needed to get into these boxes in over 20 years, there really was nothing that I probably needed to keep. I allowed myself to keep a handful of items that brought me true joy when I saw them. Some of the items I set on my desk or found a place in the house for them. Others, I did return to the box to enjoy again in 30 years when I open the box again. Everything else is gone.
Again, I gave myself time to recover. Luckily, the recovery was not as hard this time. I was understanding that my past was filled with more joy than sorrow. I realized that what I experienced in my youth, made me the lady I am today.
Round three: photos. First, I separated the pictures into stacks: Christmas and other holidays, vacations and day trips, school friends, job events, pets, house projects, parties, etc. Then, I worked through each stack. In some cases, I enjoyed the "flashback" and then realized that a friend might enjoy these pictures more and created small stacks to give to friends. Some were pictures that were enjoyable to see again, but did not need to be kept. Some were damaged and needed to just be pitched.
After purging photos, I took the photo albums I had and added the pictures into the open pages. I added labels to the different sections, with my best guess as to the year and event. For the few stacks that were too large to add to the albums, or had a lot of pictures that seemed redundant (i.e., a decade of Mardi Gras parade pictures do start to look the same), I just kept them in the Walgreens photo pack and made a note on the outside as to what was inside.
I now have two boxes on the basement shelf. One holds wedding stuff and pictures. One holds the other pictures and miscellaneous. The albums are on a shelf in my office. Someday I might do a scanning project to save these pictures electronically.
Over the year, I really did have my ups and downs with this project. In the end, I realized how truly blessed I have been. I had good friends and fun boyfriends. I had a very involved family. I traveled to fantastic places and saw amazing sights. I threw and attended fun parties. I have done some great home improvements. The blessings go on and on. I know when I open these boxes again in 30 years, I will thoroughly enjoy the walk down memory lane. My life really is amazing.
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