Thursday, two of my sisters and I met to box up the small items in Elegante Mother's condo. Who would have believed that we shoehorned that much into a one bedroom unit!? The kitchen and the closet took the most work.
I spent most of my time taping up boxes. We went through 25 small moving boxes and two rolls of tape. I brought six or seven of those boxes home with me. One held kitchen stuff, and the rest is a blend of things returned to us, and things for my youngest sister, who was teaching and could not be there.
The movers will arrive on Monday about 8:30 and the condo will be cleaned out. There are boxes of things to go to Goodwill, otherwise, most of Em's furniture will be disbursed throughout the family.
You'd think that would be the end of it, but eventually I will also have to divide up those things of EM's that are still in my house. I have her dining set, the china that was given to EM and Dad as a wedding gift from Dad's sister, and assorted collections of owls, angels, canes and birds. I also have her Christmas ornaments.
So, one day, I'm going to invite my family to visit and let them come and choose the memento they wish to have to remember Mom/Gram by.
The physical work on Thursday wasn't so terribly hard, but handling all the things that had been so important to Mother was. I've kept two items of clothing, a red jacket, and a Halloween sweatshirt that one of her granddaughter's made for her. There are also photographs, and a painting. It's hard to see and touch these things, to be closing up her nest, and realize that I can't turn and talk to her now. I was very fortunate to have EM with me for so many years.
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