Someone asked me about Mark and I cleaning the garage in the past. I feel like I have done so much complaining about the garage. Its not really a family blog friendly story but in a nutshell:
When we moved into this house in 1997 it had more than enough room for everything our growing family needed. Fast forward a few months, and Mark's mother died, leaving a house full of furniture and etc. You guessed it - a lot of the furniture and etc*. came to live at our house.
including this cedar chest
I remember feeling horrified when that U-Haul pulled up and was unloaded into my garage. Instantly all extra space in the house and garage was gone, and we were right back where we started. As the years went by, Mark slowly added even more things - but he never got rid of anything. He started storing things into the attic as well: bike tires, an extra headboard, old appliances, extra shelving, broken ceiling fans, old light fixtures, bags of stryo peanuts, empty boxes, bank statements from the 80s, a Christmas tree. I spent hours trying to organize the garage, sweeping it, making space for the kid's toys and bikes, not to mention Boy Scout camping equipment, tools, household files, carpet/vinyl/laminate/tiles that could not be tossed. It was a nightmare for me because he both refused to deal/help with it, then got mad when I did. Forget about parking in there. One of the worst arguments we had ended with me shouting at him that when he died, I was going to shove it all out to the curb.
And friend, that's pretty much what I did.
Plus, I emptied the attic.
As of this writing, the cedar chest is still sitting out in my driveway, waiting for it's new owner or the City of Austin bulk recycling to come get it. Because it is NOT going back into my garage. So just know, that when I talk about the garage, it is a hot button topic. Probably will be, for some time to come.
I can't promise I won't mention it again.
Gina
*the etc. included nightgowns and house shoes, costume jewelry, more tools in more tool boxes, saltwater fishing poles, all the vintage camera equipment, vintage LPs, tablecloths and napkins, old address books, vintage and crumbling boxed games, a giant steel cabinet, three misc. metal work tables, framed photos, two floor lamps, a silver tea service, two sets of china, silver flatware, crystal and barware, vases and knick knacks, kitchen items, inoperable vintage appliances, suit cases, extra Christmas tree stands, Tupperware, linens, a mink coat, and much more. In short, it ALL should have stayed in Galveston.
Oh, I feel for you totally. I, too, have a large amount of stuff in our garage (some also from an estate) that I am not allowed to get rid of. It's a huge victory to get rid of one rubbermaid container of clothes that no longer fit my partner. We're not even going to talk about 3 sets of ancient golf clubs, two bundles of fishing poles, 6 boxes of skates, and a race car track. And that's just in the house garage; we're not even discussing the pole barn.
ReplyDeleteI'm proud that you thoughtfully went through the stuff in the garage and attic and made good choices for you. It's that much more difficult when grief is involved, even if you know you need to let go.
Oh my, that does sound like a hot button topic! Luckily, (so far anyway) my husband and I have struck up a good compromise. We have a few outbuildings that he can do whatever he wants with. But as far as the actual house his "stuff" has to has a home or dedicated space or else he knows I'll get rid of it.
ReplyDeleteOh boy.. that would have driven me made.. I am the anti hoarder.. I am in a constant stage of decluttering.. Good for you for standing your ground and moving it all to the curb.
ReplyDeleteI gotta say, I do think this is a family blog story as our houses are a big part of our lives. As is the clutter and mess and just all of it. Thanks for sharing your story!
ReplyDeleteI have a basement that is an exact hot topic button! (Not exactly my husband's "stuff" but a family member...) I cannot wait for the day that it all is "one the curb" or otherwise out of here. I totally feel you with this post!
ReplyDeleteThat must have been awful. I think I would have had some sort of a breakdown when that U-haul pulled up.
ReplyDeleteWell done. Around the divorce the ex thought as I stayed in our flat that he would just leave the cellar and attic to me (no garage). A lot of the stuff wasn't there because of me and he knew I didn't have the possibility to haul it anywhere. So he got that taken care of at least. Which doesn't mean I don't still have stuff there that I should have had taken at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI understand completely as this is also my story. I think there are more couples like this than you realize. Good for you for now making your house your home. Jenny
ReplyDeleteOh boy. I can see how frustrating that must've been for you. Luckily, when my mom passed, it was my stuff to sort through and donate or toss, because my husband tends to be a keeper and this cottage was not built to hold a lot.
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