We’re all on the same Journey, traveling a path along the River of Time.  The experiences during the journey differ, but the destination is the same for all.  The thing that distinguishes human nature from other species is that we are acutely aware of that approaching destination. 

Philosophy looks mostly at the journey.  Theology looks at the perceived destination.  Humans want finality and tend to invent answers.  I align with the Socratic mindset that states, “The only true wisdom lies in knowing you know nothing”. “True Wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves and the world around us.”  Please forgive me if I sidestep all the Memoriam platitudes about afterlife etc.  It’s simply not the point of this message.. 

We lost a dear friend in the past few days.  Ernie was a good man, an artist, teacher and loyal friend to us all on the SF Forum.  He, as will we all, came to that crossing in the River and passed over.  He will be so very missed and remembered with love. 

“The heart hath its own memory, like the mind. And in it are enshrined
the precious keepsakes, into which is wrought the giver’s loving thought.” ~ H.W. Longfellow

Have you ever wondered what creates “Hoarders”?  Most of us have seen at least one TV show about those people.  It’s sad and obviously a mental health problem for somebody to live like that.  Well, STOP right there!  Look around at your closets, attic, basement (if you have one) and the garage.  Unless you’re at the other end of that same aberration and are an Obsessive-Compulsive, YOU…like me and most of us, are teetering on the brink.  Even if you manage to fit all the household “stuff” in cabinets where it’s not going to trip anybody, the danger lurks.  OK, all you Glass people…your working studios DO count (though not equally with the house living space).  Just because you can find the dog doesn’t mean you’re safe.  Teenagers and young adults scare me.  They’re all PIGS for a few years during their rites of passage.  Then again, it’s reassuring that though they live like hoarders, most of them grow out of that phase and keep normally acceptable living environments…most of them, anyway.

I’m in dire peril because I CRAVE backups. The first thing I do after buying a new glass-carafe coffeepot is order a spare carafe.  Sure, it might take 4 years to break the original, but a spare glass anything is essential.  If I had Metal carafes (don’t like ‘em) I’d STILL have spares.  Just remember where you stash them, up in the back of the highest kitchen cabinet.  Took me 3 days to find the last one when it broke.  For some reason, I currently own 3 coffeemakers, though you can only use one at a time (with spare carafes for 2 of them). Duplicate parts for mixers and food processors, electric knives (had 3 of those, but forced myself to give 2 of them away) and everything that moves or wears out, fill those upper cabinets.  They’re up there somewhere…just not always sure WHICH cabinet.

Woke up yesterday to a DEAD monitor.  I hopped on Amazon.com and purchased a new one which was delivered today.  The problem was that I had a terrible time not craving 2 monitors.  Now, that’s just wrong.  There IS a warranty on the new one and before it bites the dust, technology will have supplied better upgrades.  Still, that little voice talking about a “backup” was whispering.  What I’ve trained myself to do is YELL back…”Where am I supposed to PUT it?”

I do think THAT response is the saving grace.  It’s the mentally balanced ability to not just keep acquiring “Stuff” and simply dropping it in piles on the floor…or the furniture…until the mind becomes anesthetized.  Sigh…it’s time to give away that 3rd coffeepot.  No place to keep it…don’t need it.

Your danger spots are closets.  I was horrified, looking through one of mine (yes, I have more than one) to see the SAME 2-piece casual outfit in 3 different colors.  That sort of sneaked up on me.  Sure, it’s pretty and ever so comfy and I DO wear them, but that just screams BACKUP at me.  Time to thin out those closets.  Amazing, how they can fill up in less than 5 years after a flood totally destroyed all my clothes.  At least I don’t collect mega shoes…slippers, maybe.  Good thing I love giving and throwing stuff away as much as I revel in collecting it.  That balances out if you’re vigilant.

There’s a silver lining.  I don’t like animals enough to hoard them.  THAT’S nastier than piles of stuff.  At least “stuff” doesn’t poop, pee and throw up all over the house or crawl under some of the Stuff and die.  Erg…makes an extra coffeepot seem like a perfectly acceptable idea.