Making Hard Choices: Ten Things I Parted with in 2021
2021 was a challenging year for all of us, but it did give me the gift of more time to tackle my downsizing. Because I was more consumed by it, I had to face up to parting with some more cherished items if I was ever going to meet my goals. These objects hold a variety of meanings—sentiment, memory, inspiration, loss, among others. Here are some of the harder things I let go of this past year along with their brief stories. Unless otherwise stated, they were donations.
The doll’s chest of drawers and closet made by my grandfather for my sister around 1950. These are the only handmade items I had from my mother’s father. The inside of the closet is inscribed by him. When my sister outgrew these, I inherited them. And when I no longer played with dolls, I used the chest of drawers for odds and ends. But since we moved to this house 26 years ago, they have languished in the attic. I should have given them long before this. A child from a new generation will enjoy these. (Donated through the Trash Nothing site.)
A complete set of doll bedding made by my mother for me. My mother was a talent at all things handmade. The bedding set consisted of two quilts, a sheet trimmed with lace, a ribbon edged pink blanket, a lighter weight blanket printed with baby dolls, and a pillow with an organza pillowcase. I believe I used them with my Tiny Tears baby doll. With some laundering and ironing, they looked (and smelled) almost new). The new owner was thrilled. (Donated through the Trash Nothing site.)
My sister’s sewing machine. In 1963 my sister worked for the Singer Sewing Machine Co. I believe she was able to purchase this Singer 500 Slantomatic, the last all metal machine Singer made, with an employee discount. The machine saw her through art school until she moved to London for good. Through family correspondence, I note much discussion about how much it would cost to send it and then convert it to the appropriate voltage. In the end, the family determined that it made more sense to buy a new machine. Eventually, it became mine and saw much use over many years. But it was heavy and lost some of its functionality, so I replaced it with a lighter, but less durable machine. I decided to donate it because I didn’t want to invest the time or the money to make it work as it should. (Donated through the Trash Nothing site.)
My father’s Smith Corona manual typewriter. My father worked remotely long before it was fashionable because the company headquarters was 3000 miles away. Thus, he had to type his own letters and reports. The Smith Corona replaced an old Royal typewriter, a prettier thing, but less smooth. When he retired, he used it type up his condo association notes as well as letters, which he wrote with decreasing frequency. After he died, I inherited it but never used it as by then I was well into using a word processor. I can still see him banging away with two fingers. (Sold to a man who repairs and sells old typewriters.)
My Mickey Mouse case. The Mickey Mouse case was a gift, given to me when I was five. Over the years, it saw heavy use, especially during the years when my friend Mimi and I created our bear kingdom. The case carried miniatures and tiny suitcases of tiny bear clothes to her house, where our scenes played out. When my parents moved back to England when I was 20, I packed the case, with all its miniatures, into a trunk where first it stayed in storage, then in my attic, and finally in my basement until I opened the trunk and aired out the contents several years ago. The case was in remarkably good condition given its vintage. Finally, a new little girl, who loves all things Mickey, will find a new use for it. (Donated through the Trash Nothing site.)
Front page from the day after JFK was assassinated. Over the years, I saved a lot of news clippings from seminal events, including the first American in space, the first moon landing, Nixon’s resignation., the change of the millennium. I’m not sure what compelled me to do this, but there is something thrilling about owning a piece of history you were witness to. But, really, what would I do with this, other than use it in a collage? Newsprint doesn’t hold up well over time. I could frame it, but why, I had to ask myself. I don’t have enough wall space as it is. Let some other collector enjoy it. (Donated through the Trash Nothing site.)
My books about Japan and Japanese culture. One of the highlights of my life was publishing my first novel in 2018. I had to do masses of research to get the details right for this book, and I bought a couple dozen books to help me, including several other novels set in Japan, a city guide to Tokyo, and books focusing on aspects of culture that I touched on. Finding these books, reading them, and then absorbing the material took hours. It’s hard to part with something connected with a project that you’ve poured your heart and soul into. But I knew I wasn’t going to look at these books again. Eventually, the rest of this collection, except for one or two, will go, too. (Donated to More than Words, our go-to book donation organization.)
Miscellaneous jewelry from across my life. Make no mistake, I still have masses of jewelry, much of which I never get a chance to wear. As with clothes, periodically I cull my jewelry, box it up, and take it to the basement, where it lives in purgatory until I do something with it. Recently, I gave away a large box of old necklaces, bracelets, earrings (which I never wear), and jewelry from my childhood. There were many well-worn favorites among the necklaces, and there were pieces of some sentimental value among the childhood jewelry. One such piece was a bracelet given to me by Walter D, who had a crush on me in the 4th grade, except I can’t remember which bracelet it was! So, I gave the lot away. (Donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters.)
My mother’s silk screen equipment. In her 70s, my artist mother, took up silkscreen. She made about 13 different large and colorful prints over a period of three years, and I have many copies of each of these, including some that adorn my walls. Many years ago, I took a course in silk screen, but never got beyond a small one-color t-shirt emblem. Silkscreen is not for the faint of heart. It’s hard, and I admire the fact that my septuagenarian Mum had such great success at it. She is an inspiration to me to still try new things. But did I need her large, used screens to nudge me? I donated two of her screens as well as my t-shirt board for silk-screening. (Donated through the Trash Nothing site.)
Ten champagne glasses. These were a wedding gift, probably from several people. Not that we are personally attached to these particular glasses, and we still have a smaller set of nicer ones. It’s more that they represent larger parties we will never again hold, a life we no longer lead. (Donated through the Trash Nothing site.)
I don’t regret any of these decisions, but when you are a saver, as I am, little piece of you goes when you part with something beloved, even as you take the photos and keep the stories close to your heart. I am happy that most of these items will have new homes. And as the new year approaches, I vow to make even harder choices about what must go. (Madame Alexander dolls with their clothes made by my Mum, I’m talking to you!)
