My street a couple winters back
I know everyone is making a few resolutions, or maybe
just thinking what they want to do to change things for a new year and a fresh
start. We all know we can start fresh any time we want to whether it’s January,
June, or September—just any time we take a notion. Well, I’ve decided the
beginning of the year is a good time to clean out my closets, throw away,
re-purpose, or donate stuff I’ve been hanging onto for years—like that sequined,
long, chiffon skirt I never wore, and to free up my mind as well. Honestly, it's too cold outside now to do anything out there. It hasn't snowed here like it has for some of you, but
it’s still winter now and I am not venturing out to do yard work, so I’ll have
to settle for some indoor work.
You may not believe it, but I have an old VHS tape
player and over a hundred videos to play on it. Now I’ll grant you, I cannot
afford to replace all those videos with DVDs, but I am tired of hanging onto
them thinking I might want to watch them one last time. Forget it. I’m donating
the player and all those videos along with all those clothes I’ll never wear. Besides, I need the hangers anyway. Now that I have Netflix, I probably don’t
need to hang on to all those DVDs, either, but let’s just say I’m taking baby
steps here.
Toys and PEZ dispensers
I’ll confess I’m a collector of ridiculous things like
PEZ dispensers and Minions—okay, toys actually. I say I’m gonna quit, but my
nephew ends up getting me a new PEZ and, well, who can resist a new PEZ? Unlike
some collectors, I don’t care if they’re going to be worth something someday.
All I care about is they’re fun to look at today. I don’t think there’s a room
in my house that doesn’t have a PEZ dispenser lurking somewhere. I even have
some of the PEZ chewing gum dispensers like the monkey, whale, and pig.
Some of my teapots
I also collect whirligigs, teapots, and cookie cutters. I have some awesome
ones that are very old and some new ones that are just so cool. I haven’t found
a Big Foot one yet, but alert me if you ever come across one. I also am very
fond of old kitchen utensils like ice picks and egg beaters. Since I still have
the original pink wall oven from 1957, I’ve come to like the retro look. No
granite countertops and stainless steel appliances for me—not until that oven
dies anyway.
A few of my cookie cutters and retro kitchen utensils
As for Minion toys, they just make me laugh. I’m
certain my nephew has caught on to my new craze because he just sent me a
picture of all the Minion items they have for sale at Target today. I like
other toys, too, like dinosaurs, whistles, bubble blowing devices, and marbles.
I have collected other things like Netsuke, but mine
were all ivory. Because I don’t want to promote killing elephants or any other
creature, my conscience wouldn’t let me continue collecting them even though
mine are antiques. A Netsuke, by the way, is a Japanese figure used to act as a
slide knot on a pouch that holds things like pens and ink or some such items to
use during the day.
I am a Pinterest addict, but I’ll confess right here
and now that I have no intention what-so-ever of giving it up. That’s probably
my biggest confession. Next thing you know I’ll be attending those 12 step
meetings. “Hello, my name is Sarah and I’m a Pinterestaholic.” There is
something about looking at neat pictures, beautiful scenes, interesting people
and things I wish for that just brings me a quiet, peaceful, satisfied mind.
Well that’s it on confessions and cleaning out my mind
and closets. What dark secrets or things are you holding onto?
Sarah
J. McNeal is a multi-published author of several
genres including time travel, paranormal, western and historical fiction. She
is a retired ER and Critical Care nurse who lives in North Carolina with her
four-legged children, Lily, the Golden Retriever and Liberty, the cat. Besides
her devotion to writing, she also has a great love of music and plays several
instruments including violin, bagpipes, guitar and harmonica. Her books and
short stories may be found at Prairie Rose Publications and its imprints Painted
Pony Books, and Fire Star Press. She welcomes you to her website and social media:
