Monday, June 13, 2005

the perks of being a packrat

In the seemingly eternal quest to:

(a) clean my room
(b) unpack from moving home
(b pt. 2) unpack from moving home last year
(c) get organized
(d) become the world's next domestic goddess

I pulled every last cardboard box and plastic bin out of my closet and proceeded to painstakingly sort through the muddled mass of memorabilia. Accompanied only by my good friend the big, black garbage bag, I endeavored to determine what had to go and what would survive until next year.

At first it was relatively easy, who wants the reminders of that trial by fire we call American Heritage lurking about? And just how many bottles of hotel shampoo does one need? But about 2 hours into "Meet Joe Black" I hit a paradox (no, not a pair o' docs, I had made some progress and they were already neatly stored out of the way.) This paradox came in the form of that roadblock we call memory lane.

When I opened a box marked with malicious vagueness as “Taxes, Recipes & Other Files” what to my wondering eyes should appear but a colossal jumble of cards, certificates and other communications. So for the next hour or so, Mr. Garbage Bag went hungry as I relived Jr. High crushes as exposed in notes and emails, the love of family in cards and letters, and the glory of my days as a world-class shoe thief in an epistle demanding my immediate sale into slavery should the pilfered pair not be returned.

It was a bittersweet experience and though Martha Stewart would probably disapprove (but who am I to be affected by the opinion of an ex-con?), I boxed it all back up again (save for one birthday card from an old dentist) and put it back on the shelf. And although I did change the misnomer on the label to “Memories” so as not to be blindsided again, I think I’ll repeat the experience next year with my eyes wide open.

24 comments:

Maria said...

Memories are the greatest. I love to take time to read through my old journals and laught at my stupidity and the times of my life that seemed hard, but still remained golden.

Life is such a treasure. A precious treasure.

Adriane said...

MEAGAN!!! GUESS WHAT!!! Yesterday, at prolly the same time as you, my mom got to the spot in her scrapbooking which covered the shoe heist!!! And I relived the memories too! And you should come to see the pictures and the newspaper article. And I was going to blog about our famous-ness, but then I realized that I want to do it again next semester, and we shouldn't reveal our secrets in public...um. shoot.

meagan said...

I want copies! I was just thinking that I need to archive that for my posterity. Best joke EVER!

Erika said...

I keep notes and stuff like that too. I'm thinking of mod podging a frame with 2nd ward love notes and putting in either a big picture of the squishies or a bunch of pictures of all of my 2nd ward friends. Which come to think of it, I have none of 60-fun. (well, diva-fied oscar party) This must change.

Jon said...

So that's where my shoes went! I've been looking all over for them.

Tiff said...

I love doing the same.
Good times.

Adriane said...

Nope. I did not steal your shoes. Yet. But they are probably next to a lazy boy chair, ready for you to put them on again.

You are right, Gerka. That must change.

Megz, you can totally have copies! But I don't have all the pics...the one Ben put in the newspaper, when his shoes were being attacked by smelly stuff, I don't have that one. But I do have prom, the mugging, jail, shopping...well, you'll have to come and see.

meagan said...

Adriane,

Yeah! What about tomorrow before institute? I have an appointment with my FOL partner today...

Jon!

The very insinuation that WE would take YOUR shoes is preposterous! I DARE you to try and convict us. After all, we learned everything we know about beatin the system from Michael Jackson...

Adriane said...

Yay! Why do I not have an appointment with mine? Is it because I baleted his e-mail accidentally? Hmm...I should prolly fix that.

Jena said...

What's an FOL partner?

Maria said...

my guess is "Foundations of Leadership"

meagan said...

And Maria wins the prize! FOL is a 3 day conference for incoming freshman right before school starts in the fall. We (my partner and I as "experienced and successful (?!?) college students" go up to Aspen Grove and teach them how to do awesome in college. SOOO fun!

Jon said...

Considering I co-authored the Book of Awesomeness, I think I deserve to go too.

meagan said...

This is true.

Last year there were several people to drop out last minute so if the same thing happens this year, it would be relatively easy for you to go. I can give you the planner's email if you wanted to be listed as an alternate or something. It's totally worth it!

Jon said...

Is there training and stuff?

Annegirl said...

Wait, wait, wait. Screech, erch, halt. There are alternates? Is this just a boy thing?

meagan said...

Jon,

There is a training meeting on August 20th do tie up the loose ends before we go, it will only be the second meeting we've had and it is not a big deal.

Annie,

Sadly, mostly yes because we ALL know boys are more flaky than girls, but last year there were a couple girls that filled in at the VERY last minute when the flaky boy alternates flaked.

Jon said...

It's okay Annie! Maybe, as one of said flakey boys, I can sign up to be an alternate and flake at at the very last minute, so you can go by taking advantage of my pre-arranged flakage.

Adriane said...

Pah ha ha! You should both be peer mentors! How fun would that be! Everyone should be a peer mentor. That's all.

Annegirl said...

Jon! You're a genius! Except, then you wouldn't get to, and that would be sad. Think of all the freshman girls that would be heartbroken!

Annegirl said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Annegirl said...

And plus, I think the whole "pre-arranged flakage" thing blatantly defies the concept of a flake. You'd be a fake flake! Foiled in the final furlong! Far to many times! pbfffffft (oh dear.)

Jon said...

Good point, Annie.

Meagan and Adriane, it's okay. Cancel the red alert. I found my shoes.

meagan said...

Wow Jon! Isn't it amazing that they can just reappear suddenly like that? (: