Possessions and belongings

The distribution of your loved one's "stuff" can be so challenging.  I have been trying to do this gradually, because a friend once told me that when her mother died, she and her siblings had to empty the house very quickly and my friend now regrets getting rid of so many things.

My trouble is keeping too much.  I come from a family of "keepers", married one, and never seem to make the clean sweep that would gain me so much space.  One thing LeRoy used every day was his cane.  I have no use for it, others could benefit from a gift of it, but I just can't seem to get rid of it.  When I glance at it, I don't usually cry; I just remember his wonderful hands on it when he was still mobile enough to get around.

When my mother died, my sister was insistent about distributing her clothing immediately.  I wish now I had spoken up and requested a blouse or something, just for awhile, because clothing usually carries the fragrance? aroma? smell?  of the loved one.

So, many of LeRoy's pieces of clothing have been passed down or taken to our St. Vincent DePaul store, and of course the worn or stained things were thrown away.  I still have tons to take care of.  I guess that's one more instance of "one day at a time."  I make sure that I am often looking up.