Progress

PHOTO: Mary van Balen Here is my kitchen counter, built by my brother, brightened with flowers from my sister, dish towels from my cousin in the Netherlands, and the framed print from my student. Little reminders of people and places, of love and support. Last night, my daughter lent me a cable to upload the photos from my camera. I trust my cable will show up as boxes are emptied.

As I unpack clothes, I am lightening my load. I look at all my “things” and wonder if I have accumulated too much. My sister assures me that I have not. “If you spread these things around a house instead of a small flat, you would have loads of room left over.”

I think she is right. For a sixty year old woman, mother of three, I guess I have a modest collection of things. Still, I think I can pare down some.I feel better when every space need not be filled. I am not a big decorator, preferring instead a simple look. Just mini blinds, no curtains. I can’t bear to put the small microwave on my new counter, so I am on the lookout for a tv stand with a bit of storage that can slip underneath the counter and hold the microwave. I won’t mind bending down a bit to use it.

A good thing about moving a number of times in the past few years is the opportunity to realize how little I really need to run a home. So, as I empty boxes I fill others with donations for Good Will or St. Vincent’s. One thing I will keep though, impractical as it is, is the van der Graff machine. If nothing else it’s a great conversation starter and on dry days, it makes your hair stand on end!