Tonight, I attended a class called “Controlling Your Clutter.” I signed up for the class, mind you, but I was not looking forward to it at all, probably because I have a whole lot o’ clutter to control.

Like in my closet.

I have a lovely walk-through closet. Allegedly, I could walk from my bedroom through the closet to my bathroom. Allegedly. I may have done that on the day I moved in, I’m not sure. Certainly not anytime in recent memory. There are boxes in my closet that I’ve never unpacked, and I have lived here for nearly 23 months. There are boxes I took directly from my old house to my new apartment and haven’t touched since. It’s a mess.

And I know what the issue is.

Facing the past, duh. I mean, I have clothes from 10-12 years ago, clothes I haven’t work in 10-12 years. Why? Because — and all the ladies know what I mean here — they are “skinny” clothes. I never had any size 2 glory days, but I do have some 8s. I have not worn a size 8 since, hmmm, 1993, I think. Why do I still have these clothes? The only reason I can think of is to make myself feel bad for no longer wearing a size 8. So into the trash they will go.

What else do I have? Mementos. Stuff I don’t know what to do with, don’t want to get rid of, but it’s taking up sooo much space. Examples: Old journals. High-school newspapers with my brilliant columns (ha, I should post some of that here.). Love letters (actual letters, not e-mails). Happy Meal toys I used to keep in a basket at my first job after college because I was young and irreverent and could get away with that sort of thing. I could probably trash the Happy Meal toys, but the other stuff, not a chance.

I’m an emotional keeper of stuff — I attach sentiments to items, when really, most of what I have is just “stuff.” Does it make me any happier to have the actual, God-awful Coca-Cola bears my ex gave me for our first Valentine’s Day, or would the memory serve me just as well? Most likely. What about the bottle of wine my ex-boyfriend gave me last year for Christmas, a bottle I have been hesitant to open because he was a nondrinker and just liked the label? I could regift it this year. Or use it as vinegar in salad dressing.

In other news, I fully expect all of you — at least those of you who are 18 and older and U.S. citizens — to vote tomorrow. God knows there are like two democrats for me to vote for out of all of the races tomorrow in my county, but I’m still going to vote. If I can admit something, voting gives me a secret thrill. I know, I know, it’s naive, but I still feel like I’m participating in something larger than myself. Then again, I get teary-eyed when I hear the Bill of Rights being read.

* NERD ALERT! NERD ALERT! *

Sigh.

∗ Posted by Monique on 11.06.2006
∗ My life, Politics