The Abyss

When I first bought this house (before I became a ham operator), I could actually get my car in the garage at the end of the day.  On winter mornings, it wouldn't take long to warm up, and I didn't have to brush the snow from it.  In the summer, it would be cooler and protected from storm damage.  I could take the groceries into the house and not get wet.  (There's a novel idea!)  But, over the years, the garage has become overloaded with treasures that didn't fit anywhere else, and the car has sat out in the elements.  I had it cleaned out once since then, but that didn't last long.  For years I have promised myself that I would get the mess cleaned up so I could actually <gulp> USE the garage for that which it was intended, once again.  (It has become somewhat of a joke among a couple of my friends.  One, when I mention cleaning out the garage, says, "Peg, how long have I known you???")  In keeping with one of my summer goals, however, I determined to TRY--and what better day than today?

It is pretty clear to me why the garage is in the condition it is in.  The bulkiest items in the garage are baby trappings:  two high chairs, a bassinette, a big stroller, etc.  "These are too good to throw out.  I'll just clean them up and...."  Then there are cans and cans of paint that are too old to use, but "maybe they'll still be good enough for touchups."  Then, of course, there is the inevitable overflow of radio junk--things that were unneeded by others and passed off to me to be used back before I could afford anything new in radio.  (That has come full circle.  I pass off as much as I can to others in the early stages of radio, but I STILL can't afford anything new!)  There are also a couple of boxes of SATERN literature, several boxes of HCARS files and stored Field Day materials, and (of course) some family treasures that aren't useful but carry too much sentimentality to just pitch.  (Like, whatever am I going to do with a bamboo "honey bucket" with an engraved plate bidding my parents good-bye from their military friends from our service in Japan back in the 50s?)

So...it looks like cleaning out the garage is going to take a few days, if I'm going to do it right, and will have to be two-pronged:  go through and throw out the obvious, saving the rest; then going through a second time and getting more realistic about what I am saving!  I think it would be a good idea to enlist some help to actually make the minor repairs for which some of the junk was purchased--like the new doorknob for the hall closet that I bought maybe 8 years ago, still in the package...or wall corner protectors that I never put up.  (And now the corners are damaged and have to be repaired before I can put the protectors up!)  <sigh>

Back to the abyss.  I'll let you know when it is finished.  Think we will live that long??