Published: August 11, 2009 09:50 pm         

Pack rats save stuff for the memories

What are you doing with all your stuff? Think about it.

Last week, I wrote my article about saving stuff. There must be millions of people like me who also save lots of stuff because I have had numerous comments on that column. It must have struck a nerve somewhere!

My friend, Syble, sent me this prose which seems to reflect what I was saying about the things we accumulate over the years. The author is unknown but could have been written by any of us pack rats.

Stuff

“Every spring I start stirring my stuff. There is closet stuff, drawer stuff and basement stuff. I separate the good stuff from the bad stuff. Then I stuff the bad stuff where the stuff is not too too crowded until I decide if I will need the bad stuff.

“When the Lord calls me home, my children will want the good stuff, but the bad stuff ... will be stuffed in bags and taken to the dump where all the other people’s stuff has been taken.

“Whenever we have company, they always bring bags of stuff. When I visit my son, he always moves his stuff so I have room for my stuff. My daughter-in-law always clears a drawer of her stuff so I will have room.

“This spring I had an extra closet built so I would have a place for all the stuff too good to throw away and too bad to keep with my good stuff. You may not have this problem, but I spend a lot of time with stuff.

“There is all this stuff we use to make us smell good. Stuff to make us look younger. Stuff to make us look and be healthier. Stuff to hold us in and stuff to fill us out. There is stuff to read. Stuff to play with. Stuff to entertain us and stuff to eat.

“Our lives are filled with stuff. Good stuff, bad stuff, little stuff, big stuff, useful stuff, junky stuff and everyone’s stuff. When we leave all our stuff to go to heaven, whatever happens to our stuff won’t matter. We will have the good stuff God has prepared for us in heaven.”

This article doesn’t say a word about the stuff we have to decorate our homes or gadgets we use in the kitchen. There is not one mention of all the toys, crates, pillows and treats we have for our pets.

Are we a nation turned on by every advertisement on television and in stores that makes us think we must have something when we already have too much? We recently were in Branson and visited a store filled with things advertised on television. I was amazed at all the things one could buy without sending away for it. The store was crowded with people curious just like us who needed more stuff.

I also was amazed at the things sold in antique stores when my kitchen is full of those very things I use every day. Shopping there certainly made me feel old, and I came away with a new appreciation of my possessions.

Our granddaughter has lots of stuff. She has many grandparents who dote over her and bring her goodies when they come to visit. When we went to see her and her baby brother, we took them each a present. Sydney enjoyed putting Ace’s silver rattle in and out of the box it came in. She was as happy with a box as she is with all her toys. There is a lesson in there somewhere for us to learn! Children will invent a toy from nothing and play for a long time. We adults think we need stuff to be happy.

Life was happier when life was simpler. During the Great Depres-sion, we had few toys and possessions. But we were happy and didn’t know any better. We made our own toys and fun. There is a lesson to be learned here. We adults are the ones who think kids need lots of stuff. We are the ones who perpetuate the need for stuff. I do think the trend will change as the economy settles. I think we will again learn to appreciate little things and not get so caught up in our stuff.

There was a time when we entertained ourselves and guests by making candy or cookies. Then we would sit and have a lovely visit and enjoy what we cooked. We did lots of visiting while the cookies baked. Hot tea or a glass of cold milk goes well with most cookies and is a good way to forget about stuff and enjoy what really matters.



Pecan or Walnut Drops

2 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup soft butter

1 cup sifted confectioners sugar

2 tablespoons light cream

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts



Beat butter, sugar, cream and vanilla until fluffy. Stir in flour and salt that have been sifted together. Stir in nuts. Drop on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 15 to 20 minutes our just until light golden in 350 degree oven. Note: No leavening and no eggs are included in recipe.

Keep those cards and letters coming ... and the calls and comments. I love that stuff.



Send your comments to: Peggy Goodrich, Food For Thought, P.O. Box 1192, Enid, OK 73702.