easy come, not-so-easy to let go

Tonight I begin round 5 of cleaning house. This process has been happening in layers, and whether I realized it or not when I began, I certainly started with the easy, pain-free layers before moving into the more personal stuff.

Here's a cheat sheet to the last few weeks in Casa Shoeless:

1. Random stuff. Anything big that we knew couldn't come with, we sold. It's amazing what people will buy on craigslist! 

2. Garage. This was an easy no-brainer. Mostly junk in boxes we haven't touched in years. And a lot -- seriously -- a LOT of Mr. Shoe's macho man rock'em sock'em robot type gear. Needless to say, I cleaned out everything that wasn't in a green Army bag. And guess what's still there?  Yup. Exactly.

3. Library. Not as easy, but fairly painless. I kept all my writing books, a few important books from my childhood, collections of poetry, and of course, everything I own by Neil Gaiman. Anyone that thinks I will part with those items is suffering from some form of dementia.

4. Closet. Okay, I'm not going to lie. It's embarrassing that it was more difficult to say goodbye to my shoes than it was to sell off my old books. But guys, really -- they. are. so. PRETTY. I really can't be blamed for petting them lovingly as they made their way out the door. Some of my favorite tops and dresses were reluctantly tossed aside as well, but the thing that surprised me most was my emotional tie to certain pieces of jewelry. 

We're talking about earrings and necklaces I haven't worn in years (tarnished "I Love Mom" rings and bracelets from my boys), and in some cases, have never worn at all. Like the Tahitian pearls my ex-husband gave me ... they're beautiful and I have a crazy weakness for Tahitian pearls, but they were given with money he didn't have for a marriage I believed in that never really existed. Never worn them, and it's time for them to go. I'm much happier to give them to someone that can wear them ... and even happier to pocket their cash.

One day I'll buy myself a set of pearls with money I have saved, and I will wear those damn things every stinkin' day. Not even kidding. Tennis shoes, jeans, and my gorgeous inky blue-black pearls. Just wait.

Tonight I plan to go through the bathroom. I'll be up to my neatly plucked eyebrows in makeup, hair, and lotions. Our new bathroom has about half the space as the current one, so room must be made! And I have no real problem with this ... unless anyone tries to touch my MAC.

I mean it. Mr. Shoes better keep his hands away from my MAC. I know where he sleeps at night.