Too Much Stuff

In a city I recently visited there are 3500 - 5000 square foot houses spaced ten foot apart, no yard. Rows and Rows of these huge new houses. I have traveled to the city to see other peoples' stuff. What in heaven's name is wrong with those people? What are they thinking? Why would anyone want to live like that?

Three car garages and cars parked outside are common, too much stuff in the garages. All the houses are new and maybe not just alike, but very similar. The people in the houses have lots of stuff. They probably have a TV in every room, stereos, game players, computers, and more stuff. Like as not, it takes both parents working to pay the mortgage.

I just do not see the point. This is a juvenile attitude -- my toys (stuff) are better than your toys (stuff). Or even worse - the guy who dies with the most stuff wins. Yeah, but he is still dead. And someone else has to deal with the stuff left behind.

Maybe this is just overreaction to moving into my parents' house. I had to move my stuff on top of their stuff, and now I have way too much stuff. And if I had a bigger house, I would have more room for more stuff. I can see why people do not want to move; it is just too much trouble. And the more stuff you have, the more trouble it is. And worse yet -- my stuff, it is good stuff, the kind of stuff you can't really throw away.

My parents had been married 59 years when my mother passed away. In that time they had acquired lots of stuff. My mother liked to entertain and in the 50s and 60s that meant china and crystal. Entertaining meant sterling silver trays and flatware - fancy stuff. She had (I have) stemmed glasses, and sherbert glasses, linen napkins and tablecloths - delicate stuff. There are crystal toothpick holders, silver place cards, mint dishes, butter dishes, salt cellars, and I could go on and on. There are 12 silver goblets (shiney stuff) used exactly once -- on their 25th anniversary. Mother had crystal flower vases in all sizes, tiny individual silver salt and pepper shakers, and a, for Pete's Sake, silver candelabra. Who was coming over, Liberace? What do I do with all this stuff?

Kauai - the Garden Island.

Just back from a week in the most amazingly beautiful place I have ever visited. Kauai, Hawaii - I didn't get a bad meal in the 7 days I was there. I met many locals, women who are doing what they need to do to create their own Paradise. I met 3 artists, a jewelery artist, a massage therapist, and my friend who owns a health food store here. I LOVE YOU DEBBIE! Saying that it is heaven is maybe just a tad of over praising. I swam in the Pacific, walked on the beach, ate, drank, and enjoyed myself to the max. Friend of mine from Carlsbad was working there, and she was the ultimate guide, "What do I do here?". "Calm down, Shelby, you are on Island time." Remember how we call NM - the land of manana? Island time is not manana - it is "hang loose" we'll get to it. And for all you die hard NM taco snobs - fish tacos are great - to die for. Muy bueno! Verdad!

The New Year

Thoughts on a new year


The New Year is an opportunity to remind ourselves that change is not only possible, but a fact of life. Change is the only thing in life that is guaranteed. No matter how good or bad things are right at this minute - they are going to change. So, what can we do?

We can commit ourselves to positive change. We might not be able to stop bad things from happening in our lives, but we have control over how we react to the things that happen. We can react with caring and kindness. We can do our best to make everyone with whom we come into contact feel a little better because of that experience.

We can love, forgive, help and heal. We can make our world a better place to be........