Parting with the Past

As we have been sorting and sorting and sorting into our various piles, an excerpt of Ruby Payne’s book, “Framework for Understanding Poverty” comes to mind. In a little quiz, “Could you Survive Poverty”, a criterium is “I know how to move in half a day.” We are apparently a little higher up the socioeconomic level in that I doubt our completion of this task in the remaining four months. Sorting, sorting, and sorting.

Although Mick and I have gone through the entire gamut of emotions during this process, I more than him, and I know there will be many more episodes. It is to an extent relaxing. If you’ve been involved in teaching or known someone who has, this time of year is quite hectic and exhausting, with the coming of spring, hormones, exams, and attempting to keep the students focused.

After talking with a number of moving companies and getting quotes, we’ve decided to go with United Van Lines who offered a 7 x 4 x 7 box called a lift vault. This will be adequate, but a few things that we had originally planned on relocating, have been cut from the list.

One of the items is an oak hall tree, circa 1901, that was Grandma Wesson’s. It is not only sentimental, but beautiful and functional. Mick decided that his grandmother would understand. We have no heirs; therefore, we’re not certain of its eventual fate. It made its way to Craig’s List today.







We hope that someone will treat it with love and care as we have done for decades.

The major dilemma for me has been my mother’s china, early 1960’s. Mick has always been anti-formal china. His idea is that if you use it only once every Haley’s comet, you don’t need it. In fact a good Chinet paper plate is good as long as it has the three divisions (so his food does not mix) according to Mick. I’ve been back and forth, debated with him, debated with myself, cried, debated, and cried. I’ve finally agreed to part with it and to who would be its keeper.

Nikolas goes to daycare at Stoney Creek Animal Hospital. Through the many years that we’ve dealt with them, relationships have developed with some of the staff. One of the receptionists is extremely personable and transferred to that position from the kennel staff. Sarah is 22, married, and just completed her degree at UNCC. Mother would be pleased for her to have the china.



Sarah was genuinely delighted to get the china. I also gave her a set of Noritake Simplicity goblets to accompany the Gainsborough.

Hopefully the most difficult partings have taken place and everything else will be considered just "things".


Until next time,

Mick and Kathy