finding gems when decluttering

[Zoe Girl]

i am doing the slow move this time and so i am finally going through the loads of photos i have. i mean loads, however i have been a mom for almost 25 years so that right there is a lot. i did find some of my old photos and things before i had kids.

in 6th grade they asked us questions before we left for Jr High and i got to read my answers. what did i want to be when i grew up? the first female president of the united states (well duh)
what did i want to leave to my elementary school? my sister. in the care of our friend of course, and i was going to leave her my good looks.

it was also nice to see that my scrapbook had my cross country race times and some photos. i always thought my parents didn't care about my running (as compared to the much cooler football of my brother) but someone saved those things. And i wasn't always last on my cross country team like i thought i was.

[ejchase]

This is a different kind of gem. Right before I found out I was pregnant (when I'd pretty much given up on the idea since I was 44!), I bought a bunch of nice bras. I grew out of them of course by the end of the first trimester, stuffed them in some sort of storage container and then we moved right before I had the baby and since I was basically a basket case at that point, my brother and my in-laws sort of put everything away so it often took me months to find things.

A year after my daughter was born when I was totally broke but back to my normal size and about to go back to work full time, I went on a decluttering spree. One of the first treasures I uncovered were the five beautiful, brand-new bras, practically unworn. Eureka!

[Zoe Girl]

wow, found it just at the right time. i had something like that, i am trying to remember now but the biggest thing i tend to misplace are my thoughts!!

[Chicken lady]

I found the book I needed to teach my class next year.

[Zoe Girl]

i went on retreat in january and one of the teachers had written a book about engaged buddhism. i really liked him and he actually knew the nun i study with. i kept on looking at the table where the books were being sold and stopping myself, not because of finances but i just kept wondering. i came home and found i had bought the book (and read it) about 10 years beforehand.

[shadowmoss]

Tonight I found that I own a cast iron dutch oven. It was hidden with the other cast iron stuff that I don't use. Wish I'd realized that a few years ago when I was car camping more.