I went to see 300 on Sunday afternoon - one of the best films ever. I'm going to stop myself right here before I start gushing. Mesmerizing.
I cleaned a bit this past weekend, and I've taken stuff to the Goodwill dropoff, and still I've only made a dent. I'm feeling frustrated - ready to chuck it all. Well, most of it. This is not a spring-cleaning urge-- I sort of function on some huge elliptical orbit oblivious to the seasonal urges other people seem to get. It's caused by my own recalcitrant circadian clock which also gives me the instinct to awaken at the crack of noon, whether I've had the full 5 hours' sleep or not.
Anyway, the sheer volume of stuff I have is really getting me down. It's insidious how this over-accumulation creeps up on a body. Why do we keep thousands of photographs which are unremarkable and unmemorable, for example, not of people or of anything in particular? I've mentioned my glossy addiction, but now I've started letting the subscriptions lapse and I'm throwing them out. I'm not a minimalist and I never will be, but something's got to give. Everything must go. Please clear the area.
I remember a few years back there was an art student who sold all his crap on ebay. His i.d. was mylifeforsale and listed items included half-used bags of flour, boxes of oatmeal and all his clothes and possessions. It was very odd, but I'm understanding the urge.
I think I've been holding back from life for way too long. I know everyone feels on occasion that life is more dark and complicated than it should be, and therein lie many of its frustrations and heartbreaks. We can't change it. We can't wish it away. All we can do is make the best of what we have, and fight to preserve what truly is precious and of value in our lives, and let go of the flotsam and jetsam that weighs us down.
I love in the brilliant David Mamet film The Edge where Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin are tragically stranded in the Canadian Rockies.
Alec: What will you do when you get back to civilization?
Anthony: I'm going to start my life over.
Alec: You'll be the first.
What do you think? Will you be spring cleaning? Are you a clean freak anyway? Minimalist? Pack Rat? Sick home syndrome? Any tips for de-acquiring colossal piles of crap? Can a zebra change her spots? I'm waiting with bated breath.
3 comments:
I know I should do a lot of yard work and cleaning, but I don't have a lot of drive to make it happen. We'll see. I guess you could say I'm a pack rat. I've got a lot of stuff that I've been saving since childhood. Lots of books.
Will probably see 300 today some time. Wanted to see it yesterday but was too pooped from Sweetwater. By the way, you slid by last night when my latest post was a work in progress. come by and see the final product. http://fathairybastard.blogspot.com/
I often think how much easier life would be without all this stuff. Uncluttered. But this stuff is what's left from the process of me living my life. So my stuff is me. One of these days I'll be dead and it'll all go in a dumpster. Some dumpster diver will sell it to a flea market dude and it'll all get recycled. Such is life.
I loved The Edge; Bart the Bear was brilliant in that film.
Ah yes, cleaning styles. I am a wannabe minimalist who lives with 2 pack-rats, which is far from an ideal situation, so I'll take any of those tips you are offered as well.
I'm going to have to do some cleaning of the closets b/c I think my dude's going to move in shortly and I need to make room. I realized, though, that there are so many things that I haven't worn in a while b/c of size or the fact that no one dresses up here in Seattle.
We're going to see 300 this weekend -- looking forward to it. I dont' think I've seen a movie in a theatre that I've really liked in a few months.
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