The Big Sift

Just over a week ago, I woke up and said, "Grrr". My wondrous, capacious, walk-in closet content was on my mind. Besides the objects that creep into one's life to bedevil boxes and shelves, I knew it was time to sift through the paperwork pushed aside during this summer's move, plus plenty of unwanted, past-statutes-of-limitations agglomerations, in order to establish some sort of coherent system that easily responds to new demands. Especially, after watching the old men stars of The Kominski Method and a few episodes of Grace and Frankie's fifth season; good grief, I'm that old! So, I started the Big Sift. As I held up piece after piece, paper after paper, I thought of someone, likely a reluctant heir, having to go through this stuff when some future morning I did not appear in my bathroom mirror anymore. My "to keep" or "deep six" mantra was...

1. Do I have to have this crap?

2. Do I even like this crap?

3. Will my survivors say, "Why'd she keep this crap?

Right now, I'm a little astonished that I managed to drag some parts of it across America six year ago, and in more recent accumulations, appalled by what America's health care system is doing to the forests supplying the paper. And we all thought the electronics would get rid of paper trails. hahahahaha

Hmmm. Not the Marie Kondo approach, but it is working. I'm not finished. But then, no one ever is until they don't appear in the bathroom mirror in the morning anymore.

This is about the second day so it's still kinda tidy. It got bushels-worth worse.

Pano. (The shelves are straight.) 

Thank goodness, there is the Bistro to walk to for eats. I'll post an "after".

Later.

Sometime.

________

Today, I learned that in this last week Keoni did three "Met" things made affordable by student status. One, go to the Met Cloisters close to where he lives; two, go to a Mets game, and three, go to the Met...the Metropolitan Opera for $6--in a crowded standing room where you could listen but not see it. After a little while, he went outside and asked a couple of well-heeled attendees who were leaving the opera house if they minded if he used their tickets since they were leaving. The first one or two sort of looked askance as though he was a homeless person, but an exiting elderly couple handed him two tickets. He finished watching the performance from the $260 seats.

But, his life there is not all entertainment; the musicianship he is working on and toward has grown much more serious now.

All this was part of a Skype conversation with him this afternoon. So fun to catch up as he walked around the plaza next to Lincoln Center in sight of his school and New York's fine offerings--plus, the street vendor Halal where he gets his lunches. It all puts the awe in my awesome.

I was text-checking with Aidan for news on his front, but he must be steeped in his studies and cello right now since I didn't hear back as yet. Maybe I'll learn more from him tomorrow on a walk.

Over in Missouri, Jeanenne shared a moment where young Kensie was helping her soccer team...

Go, Kensie! There were several soccer games going on at the same time. Jeanenne and Larry had five of their seven grandkids in the games and managed to see each one!

I'll be going to Missouri in a few weeks and give a bit of help while Jeanenne has a knee replaced. All the kids must be at least a foot taller since I saw them a couple of years ago.

Out in Arizona, Gloria was walking a labyrinth out in the desert one evening in site of the Catalina Mountains. She shared the picture that Joseph snapped of her. We both remembered with poignancy, the many walks we took together at Catalina State Park.

The colors of fall are appearing. It started a little early and is not as colorful as the first year or two here. The rains, or lack of, have played a role. Many of the trees' leaves turned brown early this year and dropped off long before their usual fades from green to bright colors. The Dock oaks have been prolific and acorns crunching under tires and underfoot are part of the sounds. Farm markets are selling mini hay bales that make me think of Lilliputian balers and tractors. The farm stand colors are to be loved...