Thursday June 16 2016  IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE…

It’s beginning to look a lot like a GARAGE SALE everywhere I go in this house!  Closets are coming apart, cupboards are being rummaged, boxes are opened, and in some instances the entire box, content and all are promptly curtailed to the garage.  Those boxes no longer have a place of honor under this roof.  And oh, it feels so good when the entire box goes out.  I have boxes of Christmas décor, and Thanksgiving décor, and even Halloween fall-DE-rill!  And then there is the occasional box I keep.  The one I kept today included my older cameras all the way back to the Box Camera that belonged to my parents.  It is the model you held at your waist and viewed an upside down rendition of what you planned to capture on film.  That camera took some awesome photos during my early childhood.  I think it would still work if I had some film to fit it.  I think I actually do have film that could probably be used but it is outdated.  Oh well, so is the camera outdated. 

I also came across Dave’s teddy bear that he loved as a baby and toddler.  In the same box was Courtland’s little teddy bear.  It was well loved but not nearly to the extent as Dave’s was.  Courtland helped me with the decision to keep them.  I think his boys would enjoy seeing them.  Both boys have had their own true loves sleeping with them these past few years.  And Xander is still in love with his soft stuffed animals.  He decorates his room with them.  And of course, I keep adding to his collage.    

Zach is now in the Lego and comic book stage.  So soon their babyhood is over.

Today was filled with eye tests, dilation, bright lights, and good news for the present.  I was being checked to see if my cataracts were ready to be surgically repaired and to confirm that I did not have a retinal disorder.  Over the years I have had some very major issues with my eyes and the result is I have permanent damage from past trauma and illnesses pertaining to them.  On one occasion I had a serious MRSA infection in both eyes and almost had to have one eye ball removed.  God intervened and I was spared having my eyeball taken out of my head.  I won’t go into details about much that has happened in the past, but because of so many traumas to my eyes there is damage control to be considered in order to keep my eyes as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

Because of my history of MRSA in the eye the surgeon does not think removing my cataracts is worth the risk.  My vision will be distorted but it is better than causing the MRSA to flare up.  Just in case you don’t know about MRSA it is a bacterial infection that is resistant to antibiotics.  There are some powerful antibiotic cocktails used to squelch it and sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t.  It is a major killer in post operative patients. 

There are some more points about the eye that I would like to discuss as an entire blog topic but will do so in the future as I am still having a bit of difficulty with the light due to my dilated eyes.  I just wanted my family to know that I am doing well and there is no surgery for me in the near future.  For that I am grateful.

Now, back to my upcoming garage sale.  Here goes!  I am “borrowing” a well known line from a song we all know…

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE…

By Kathleen Martens

June 16, 2016

It’s beginning to look a lot like

A garage sale everywhere I go,

The house is a mess I must confess,

Enough to make one depressed.

But I choose to look at the bright side

And enjoy everything I do.

I read the titles of the books,

And pick out just a few.

Just a few to keep that is,

The rest are up for sale.

Beloved books from the coat closet,

I swallow my moans and wails.

To give up a book not yet read

Is chivalry to say the least!

And to myself I am gracious,

For an unread book my feast.

Out go my pots and pans,

Brand spanking new ones already in place.

But I may sneak two back in…

If I have the space.

Holiday décor in great amounts

Spill out as I open lids,

I quickly fasten the tops back on

And will accept the highest bid.

What was once so beloved

Has betrayed me through the years.

The boxes sat around doing nothing,

And now from closets will no longer leer.

And so it is time to make it happen,

Downsizing “UP”* more time to give.

Without so much stuff to take care of,

Life will offer me more hours to live.

Empty cupboards and empty drawers,

And closets no longer cluttered.

That is the solace of beautiful peace

And no exasperation will be muttered!

Just so you know this the first round

Because there is so much to let go.

I don’t think there is room in the garage

For everything to even show.

And hopefully it will all happen

Making signs and pounding them in.

And I hope some big fat wallets come

With a host of women and men!

Thank You God that I do not need to have cataract surgery at the present.

Thank You Lord for my vision.

Thank You Father for loosening the binds of clutter!

Thank You Lord for kohlrabi.

GOOD NIGHT AND MAY GOD’S BLESSINGS BE UPON YOU!

*  Downsizing “UP” is a phrase I read in Marni Jameson’s book, “DOWNSIZING THE FAMILY HOME”.  She states that as we downsize all that we own we are actually downsizing “UP”, because without all the clutter and things to take care of, the quality of our life will be much improved.  We will actually have the time to do what we love to do instead of just taking care of all our belongings and a big house!  So, instead of “DOWN” sizing, we are “UP” sizing!