What object(s) in your home most provide memories you cherish at the end of this year?
“Memories and thoughts age, just as people do. But certain thoughts can never age, and certain memories can never fade.” (Haruki Murakami)
Ruth and I adapt well to traveling independently in various places around the world and in this country. So I figured that quality would help us immensely if we ever decided to move from our present condo in Fort Lauderdale. Well the time has come to put that conclusion to a reality test as we have decided to buy a bigger and newer condo unit in a quieter community a few miles north of where we live now. With the assistance of a reputable real estate company, we’ve thankfully expedited the closing date to move in before the end of December. But that means most of the moving task per se must be accomplished relatively quickly on our own. Consider as well whether we are psychologically prepared for this transition now?
In this regard, it seems natural to imagine that the current clutter of boxes, file cabinets, and furniture lying around everywhere resembles a gigantic road trip preparation. But unlike such travel occasions, it’s very difficult for me, in particular, to grasp the permanency that we will not be coming back after forty some years living in the same place. Thus I seem overly sensitive now to relive those fond memories that happened during that large chunk of our life span in this home.
Feeling definite heartaches then, I await the inevitability of those final days as our personal possessions slowly disappear. For I will soon be staring at nothing but empty rooms. But wait! Thankfully there will be a last object standing by my choice alone in the living room on moving day. It’s our decorated holiday tree filled with colorful hanging ornaments intended as a last chance to reminisce about those good times we experienced living in this home. So I’d like to share several of these tree decorations with you in the photo set below with brief captions describing their personal meanings. Happy Holidays.
We watched Miami Dolphin football on Sunday with gut wrenching interest in the living room for over forty years.
So many off school and retirement vacations like this Yellowstone Park trip began with extensive planning at our kitchen table.
We often packed in ample sized closets the most practical items we needed for our next vacation.
Family heirlooms displayed in our living room raised interesting conversation during holiday family gatherings.
Ruth and her mother knitted personalized clothes for Jim.
Ruth and her mother knitted personalized clothes for Ruth.
A Cleveland Browns win around playoff time usually brought goodies to my holiday stocking.
Many soothing naps were taken while listening to quiet music in our spacious bathtub and comfy easy chair.
Snippets of a Traveling Mind 
Moving is a lot of work, but it’s a great opportunity to go through all your stuff and purge the clutter.
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Yes less clutter means more space for items in travel. Happy Holidays.
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