The house is empty, the movers were here yesterday and they packed everything.
The house is more silent. Since all objects are gone I breath better and it’s less noisy. I told Jim: “I feel that our stuff in the house speaks and whispers to me…”
Since they are gone, it is calmer and serene. I will not hear their constant conversation in my head anymore: “clean me, change me, I am getting old but don’t get rid of me, I am fragile please handle me carefully…”
They have a power over me, the power of carrying all the good memories, the faces of family and friends, places we went to, money we spent buying them, the effort we did to carry them from country to country and continent to continent… They are gone now, at least for a while…
Some time I fear that they will be lost in the sea or in a plane crash during the move, but I wonder if I will not feel free from the burden and the attachment, if it ever happens. Will I miss them? Will I remember them? No. I think I will start over with new objects to collect and move them around, again. Why do we do that? Why can’t we human being live in an empty house with just basic necessary stuff? Why do we need choices and options even if we never use them, ever?
Years ago I was at the airport leaving Beirut to visit my sister in Paris, and at the boarding gate I recognize a woman activist, very well known in Lebanon for trying to assassinate one of the warlords, she was arrested by the militia and spend years in confinement. She was newly released and was going to give a conference about her years in prison. She was sitting right next to me when came two young people going on vacation with four carry-on, they were complaining that they had to pay overweight for their other two checked-in luggages. She looked at them, laughed and said: ” you will be surprise to know how little things we need in our life.” She was referring to her cell where she had almost nothing and no belongings, and yet she was able to make it through the years.
After our stuff are gone, and until we will get them again at the other end, Jim and I will have to live on two suitcases for months. By the time we get our stuff back, we will realize how unnecessary they are, since we were able to go on with our lives without having them around.
So good to read your words again my friend…it would appear that you’re moving again…it is amazing how much ‘stuff’ we seem to think we need…hope all is well with you and yours.
Where are you moving now?
Hi Alicia, we are going to DC then Germany.
where in Germany? and for how long?
I feel like there’s always a weeding out that happens before a move, and after too when you realize ”wow, I didn’t miss this.” Call me if you need help settling back in. Miss you and can’t wait to see you!
I cant wait to see you too Holy
love you.
I love that feeling of being without all my stuff during a move! I sometimes long for the days when I could fit everything that was important to me in the trunk of my car. Sometimes our things own us instead of the other way around.
Our two months here in a furnished apartment before we got a house and our goods arrived was a nice break. I hope the move goes well!
I can relate …just before I lost my home and everything to hurricane Floyd in ’99, I was a collector of Antiques…and other things. Now, I still try and pick every collectible I can, but, I vowed to never become attached again…now, I only buy to sell…Great hearing from you again.
Wise position, Mirella.
Am reblogging.
Sorry I haven’t been here for so long.
Reblogged this on THE WRITER BY DAY and commented:
Blogger and writer, Mirella McCracken – recently returned to the U.S. from the Sudan, shares some thoughts on the baggage in life.
I really resonated with this. It spoke to me of my own relationship with stuff. Iam a constant mover but still have stuff. I give away stuff and other stuff takes the place. I too have spent time in a cell of sorts….not prison. I had no stuff then and was just fine. I was free from the stuff voices. I never thought that stuff talks to us. I’m going to have to contemplate this.
I saw your post on Jamie’s blog after I posted ‘Mindfully Moving House’. We seem to feel the same about packing stuff and moving. I wish you a good move ( a ‘light’ one) and nice start at your new place.
Paula
Thanks Paula, very sweet of you:)