Thumper gives lessons in letting go
I already knew I needed to get rid of stuff–lots of stuff–before the move. But now the moving estimates are rolling in and I REALLY need to get rid of stuff. The moving companies charge by weight and if the estimates are even close to accurate we need to lighten the load a lot before we go. I’ve been able to let go of some things, but I was having a hard time with it.
And then today…
This morning my cell phone, already badly battered by Thumper’s persistent experiments in gravity, hit the floor and fell apart. Completely unfixably dead. So I had to go buy a new phone. A nuisance and money I hadn’t planned on spending, but not really a big deal because I’m not the fancy phone type. And then I tried to make a call from the new phone and found that I hadn’t been saving phone numbers in the old phone to the SIM card. And the old phone won’t turn on, so…no phone numbers on the new phone and no way to get them out of the old phone. Okay. A hassle but no tragedy. I’ve mass-emailed all my friends to get them to send me their numbers again. (If I had your number and you didn’t get an email, check your spam filter.)
Cell phone. Fine. Not a big deal.
What came next though…
Thumper has been cranky the past few days, cutting four teeth at once the poor guy. And I’ve been going kind of nuts with everything that needs to get done. Clearly what we needed was a playdate with our neighbor Celine and her two kids. We headed toward Prospect Park and decided to take the boat ride that goes along the lake. It was lovely, breezy and not too warm and muggy like it had been. Thumper was kind of fussy and restless, but it was okay. And then, fast as lightening, I swear because I never took my eyes off him, Thumper pulled my notebook from my bag and threw it in the water. And then it was gone.
My Moleskine. My beloved, half-full with ideas and snippets and thoughts and sketches and pieces of stories and the new novel notebook. Gone.
If I can lose my notebook and survive, I certainly think I can get rid of things that mean a lot less. I’m ready to get serious about getting rid of the things we don’t need or love. Unfortunately, the clock is now ticking. We need to be out of here by 8/23.
I just need to white-knuckle it through the next couple of weeks. It might not be pretty.
Deep breaths. Lots of ’em. You’ll be fine. It just might not feel that way for a while.
Posted by: Rachel H
That sucks. Is there a statue to bury for this? Oregon will be full of new, fresh inspiration. Perhaps a clean slate was in order (it wasn’t, but keep telling yourself and maybe it will be better).
Posted by: Natalie
Yikes…I think there is a purging going around in the blogasphere. Everywhere I read people are tossing the “stuff” that is crowding our lives.
Poor moleskin….
Posted by: Darci
Oh. Oh. OH! You seem remarkably calm. Oh, oh, oh. The notebook. I would never, ever want to lose my notebook.
I have been backing up my laptop every day now.
I think the more you pack, and the closer you get to the moving date, the more you’ll find yourself sticking perfectly functional and attractive items by the curb. At the end you just. don’t. care. It’s liberating, really.
You’ll make it! (And then you won’t have to move again for a long, long time.)
Posted by: Aura
Oh no! I admire you for putting a positive spin on it and learning a lesson from the experience though. I am a bit of a clutterbug myself.
Posted by: knittripps
Purging stuff is hard. We had some help in January with that when our washing machine freaked out and poured hundreds of gallons of water into our house and totally drenched our garage full of crap. Making ruthless decisions after that was easier, but I don’t recommend that method. Good luck!
Posted by: Visionsister
Deep breaths. Lots of ’em. You’ll be fine. It just might not feel that way for a while.
Posted by: Rachel H
That sucks. Is there a statue to bury for this? Oregon will be full of new, fresh inspiration. Perhaps a clean slate was in order (it wasn’t, but keep telling yourself and maybe it will be better).
Posted by: Natalie
Yikes…I think there is a purging going around in the blogasphere. Everywhere I read people are tossing the “stuff” that is crowding our lives.
Poor moleskin….
Posted by: Darci
Oh. Oh. OH! You seem remarkably calm. Oh, oh, oh. The notebook. I would never, ever want to lose my notebook.
I have been backing up my laptop every day now.
I think the more you pack, and the closer you get to the moving date, the more you’ll find yourself sticking perfectly functional and attractive items by the curb. At the end you just. don’t. care. It’s liberating, really.
You’ll make it! (And then you won’t have to move again for a long, long time.)
Posted by: Aura
Oh no! I admire you for putting a positive spin on it and learning a lesson from the experience though. I am a bit of a clutterbug myself.
Posted by: knittripps
Purging stuff is hard. We had some help in January with that when our washing machine freaked out and poured hundreds of gallons of water into our house and totally drenched our garage full of crap. Making ruthless decisions after that was easier, but I don’t recommend that method. Good luck!
Posted by: Visionsister
Good Lord. I swear that’s why babies and toddlers are so cute – it’s hard to think about throttling them for things like that (or for head-butting me in a restaurant) when they’re so adorable.
Posted by: Carrie
Aw, Nuts! Our kids teach us lessons we didn’t ever realize we needed to learn.
Posted by: Celia
Chica, I feel your pain. I just moved two weeks ago and it nearly drove me mad – and I was only moving a few blocks over!
Salvation Army will come to your house and pick stuff up. Give them a call, set a date, and then go through all your crapola. Craigslist was a big help when it came to selling off furniture and other random things.
You’re a strong woman. We all have faith that you will survive this move one piece. Good luck! = )
Posted by: Sharon
Letting go is the hardest thing. I’m the queen of hanging on. Thanks to Thumper for showing you what you’re capable of.
Posted by: Jessica
WOW- I just felt pretty nauseous when I read that. But you seem to have an amazing perspective, and yes, we all can make do with far less than we think we need to feel comfortable. Good luck with the downsizing!
Posted by: ann
Oh man. That’s a harsh slap of reality! Kids are great and getting things jump started aren’t they? Intentionally or not. You’ll be all freshly inspired once you move on out to this coast though. I’m not in Portland but up in Seattle….it’s essentially the same. You’ll feel totally renewed and inspired around here.Good luck!
Posted by: Stephanie
That is HORRIFYING.
Posted by: Paula
Oh how heart-breaking this story is. Ugh.
Kids do have a way of teaching us lessons, sometimes quicker than we teach them.
Posted by: Sunflowerfairy
Good Lord. I swear that’s why babies and toddlers are so cute – it’s hard to think about throttling them for things like that (or for head-butting me in a restaurant) when they’re so adorable.
Posted by: Carrie
Aw, Nuts! Our kids teach us lessons we didn’t ever realize we needed to learn.
Posted by: Celia
Chica, I feel your pain. I just moved two weeks ago and it nearly drove me mad – and I was only moving a few blocks over!
Salvation Army will come to your house and pick stuff up. Give them a call, set a date, and then go through all your crapola. Craigslist was a big help when it came to selling off furniture and other random things.
You’re a strong woman. We all have faith that you will survive this move one piece. Good luck! = )
Posted by: Sharon
Letting go is the hardest thing. I’m the queen of hanging on. Thanks to Thumper for showing you what you’re capable of.
Posted by: Jessica
WOW- I just felt pretty nauseous when I read that. But you seem to have an amazing perspective, and yes, we all can make do with far less than we think we need to feel comfortable. Good luck with the downsizing!
Posted by: ann
Oh man. That’s a harsh slap of reality! Kids are great and getting things jump started aren’t they? Intentionally or not. You’ll be all freshly inspired once you move on out to this coast though. I’m not in Portland but up in Seattle….it’s essentially the same. You’ll feel totally renewed and inspired around here.Good luck!
Posted by: Stephanie
That is HORRIFYING.
Posted by: Paula
Oh how heart-breaking this story is. Ugh.
Kids do have a way of teaching us lessons, sometimes quicker than we teach them.
Posted by: Sunflowerfairy
that’s mortifying! yikes!
we’re moving across the country right now and are using ABF UPACK. they’re cheaper because they don’t insure so much – and for that reason they don’t go by weight. good luck with thinning the stuffs out.
Posted by: cosy
OUCH!! Good thing you love Thumper lots-n-lots, yes?!
I feel for you with all the empathy of my soul! Been there m’self, more than once. All four of my children survived, and most of my sanity, too. Hang in there!!
Posted by: Mother Chaos
Not the Moleskine.
Posted by: rams
If I lost my notebook I would die.
I am surprised you did not.
Holy crap.
(It is a testament to the lovely sort of mother you are that you are not holding this against him.)
Posted by: Stephanie
Oh noes. And aaargh.
Well, at least the Brooklyn tornado didn’t hit you, right?
Posted by: marrije
Holy Moleskines ! I lost mine yesterday – and I still feel my head and soul has been yanked off of me… I think I will try to learn from your lesson with you, but yikes.
Posted by: Sara
And yet, it wasn’t Thumper who fell overboard. In the grand scheme of things, it’s an annoyance, a setback, and an opportunity to develop better, fresher ideas.
Okay, it sucks. Just trying to make you feel better. 🙂
Posted by: jessie
Good Thumper! It truly will be a new beginning!! And, yes, you can and will get rid of all that “stuff” which actually blocks energy. Be strong!
Posted by: Carmen
oh man. them babies is tricky little tricksters, no? I’m so impressed with how you’re handling it!! I love how these little trials show you what an amazingly strong person you can be.
Posted by: melanie
that’s mortifying! yikes!
we’re moving across the country right now and are using ABF UPACK. they’re cheaper because they don’t insure so much – and for that reason they don’t go by weight. good luck with thinning the stuffs out.
Posted by: cosy
OUCH!! Good thing you love Thumper lots-n-lots, yes?!
I feel for you with all the empathy of my soul! Been there m’self, more than once. All four of my children survived, and most of my sanity, too. Hang in there!!
Posted by: Mother Chaos
Not the Moleskine.
Posted by: rams
If I lost my notebook I would die.
I am surprised you did not.
Holy crap.
(It is a testament to the lovely sort of mother you are that you are not holding this against him.)
Posted by: Stephanie
Oh noes. And aaargh.
Well, at least the Brooklyn tornado didn’t hit you, right?
Posted by: marrije
Holy Moleskines ! I lost mine yesterday – and I still feel my head and soul has been yanked off of me… I think I will try to learn from your lesson with you, but yikes.
Posted by: Sara
And yet, it wasn’t Thumper who fell overboard. In the grand scheme of things, it’s an annoyance, a setback, and an opportunity to develop better, fresher ideas.
Okay, it sucks. Just trying to make you feel better. 🙂
Posted by: jessie
Good Thumper! It truly will be a new beginning!! And, yes, you can and will get rid of all that “stuff” which actually blocks energy. Be strong!
Posted by: Carmen
oh man. them babies is tricky little tricksters, no? I’m so impressed with how you’re handling it!! I love how these little trials show you what an amazingly strong person you can be.
Posted by: melanie
I wish you speed… 13 days! You’ll do it and do it well.
Posted by: Susan
Oh no! I suppose in a cosmic sort of way there’s a lesson there (which you seem very calm about!) but ugh, I can imagine how hard that loss must have been.
Posted by: Phoe
That happened to my little notebook, too, and it never did turn up. Well, it wasn’t at the bottom of a pond, just disappeared. I tried to reconstruct all my notes and ideas, but most of them just got away.
Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport
oh. oh, oh, OH. Definately one of those it’s-a-good-thing-I’m-your-mother-and-HAVE-to-love-you moments. I’ll bet he was inordinately proud of himself afterwards, too.
You’re right of course, all you can do is get through. It will be worth it on the other end.
Posted by: Ruth
What you need is a bunch of friends to come by with giant trashbags, to toss your old stuff with Thumper-like efficiency. I volunteer!
Posted by: Iris
Oh, your *Moleskine*. It’s okay to spend some time mourning that, as far as I’m concerned. :(I swear they’re faster than light sometimes–the other day I was assembling a toy shopping cart and by the time I got to the fourth wheel, it was gone. We still haven’t found it.
Good luck with the streamlining and packing. Keep us updated here, maybe it will help with the motivation?
Posted by: Amy
I know it’s really hard to let go of stuff (“What if I find I really need that puce colored acrylic throw that the cat peed on when I get to the new house?”), but as a veteran of many, many around the world moves, please take my word for it: you will never miss it, and you will be so glad to have less to unpack and organize when you get there. It’s very liberating to just give away anything you have no immediate use for. You can always get a new whatever if you find you need it, but chances are, your life will be different, your tastes will be different, and you will want something different when you get where you’re going. Keep the essentials and the sentimental stuff (old bills are not sentimental). Get rid of everything else, and embrace the freedom.
Posted by: Suzanne V. (Yarnhog)
Ouch. Ouch.
I feel your pain. Our country house burned down a few years ago and my entire study, with everything I’d ever written professionally, all my reference books, my bulletin board laden with many years’ worth of inspirations and images and ideas, was ashes.
It hurts. But ultimately, it’s just stuff. Even those lost ideas will replenish themselves. The notebook is a reflection of what’s in your mind, and nothing takes that away.
(Still I do not recommend our particular method of destashing, efficient though it was.)
Posted by: YTT
I wish you speed… 13 days! You’ll do it and do it well.
Posted by: Susan
Oh no! I suppose in a cosmic sort of way there’s a lesson there (which you seem very calm about!) but ugh, I can imagine how hard that loss must have been.
Posted by: Phoe
That happened to my little notebook, too, and it never did turn up. Well, it wasn’t at the bottom of a pond, just disappeared. I tried to reconstruct all my notes and ideas, but most of them just got away.
Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport
oh. oh, oh, OH. Definately one of those it’s-a-good-thing-I’m-your-mother-and-HAVE-to-love-you moments. I’ll bet he was inordinately proud of himself afterwards, too.
You’re right of course, all you can do is get through. It will be worth it on the other end.
Posted by: Ruth
What you need is a bunch of friends to come by with giant trashbags, to toss your old stuff with Thumper-like efficiency. I volunteer!
Posted by: Iris
Oh, your *Moleskine*. It’s okay to spend some time mourning that, as far as I’m concerned. :(I swear they’re faster than light sometimes–the other day I was assembling a toy shopping cart and by the time I got to the fourth wheel, it was gone. We still haven’t found it.
Good luck with the streamlining and packing. Keep us updated here, maybe it will help with the motivation?
Posted by: Amy
I know it’s really hard to let go of stuff (“What if I find I really need that puce colored acrylic throw that the cat peed on when I get to the new house?”), but as a veteran of many, many around the world moves, please take my word for it: you will never miss it, and you will be so glad to have less to unpack and organize when you get there. It’s very liberating to just give away anything you have no immediate use for. You can always get a new whatever if you find you need it, but chances are, your life will be different, your tastes will be different, and you will want something different when you get where you’re going. Keep the essentials and the sentimental stuff (old bills are not sentimental). Get rid of everything else, and embrace the freedom.
Posted by: Suzanne V. (Yarnhog)
Ouch. Ouch.
I feel your pain. Our country house burned down a few years ago and my entire study, with everything I’d ever written professionally, all my reference books, my bulletin board laden with many years’ worth of inspirations and images and ideas, was ashes.
It hurts. But ultimately, it’s just stuff. Even those lost ideas will replenish themselves. The notebook is a reflection of what’s in your mind, and nothing takes that away.
(Still I do not recommend our particular method of destashing, efficient though it was.)
Posted by: YTT
Oh! I’ve just been dealing with my little guy pulling out books and notebooks and binders of sketches and rumpling them, not even tearing pages but just making wrinkles and creases in the pursuit of his favorite crinkly sounds. I think its time to relocate that stuff out of his reach, but it’s probably time to let go of some of it before the Universe reaches in and does it for me. When I lose a good idea, I try to remember that inspiration always keeps flowing, and tomorrow’s fresh idea is likely to be better than yesterday’s old one. Best of luck in getting things packed for the move.
Posted by: Saralyn
This reminds me of a time when I was going through a really rough, not-speaking patch with my Dad. My then 21/2 year old son totally accidentally bumped into a vase my dad had given me years ago. Oh, how I loved that little vase. I tried to calm myself by saying, “this is about attachment.” The Buddha would say, “this is a lesson in non-attachment.” Of course my very next thought was, “Screw the Buddha, I want my vase!!”
My dad and I have reached a new, wonderful stage of our relationship, and he recently gave me an-almost the same vase, only better. Like us. So maybe this is about re-birth as much as it is loss…
Lauren
P.S. I’ve moved across the country twice (driving both, pets both, three-year-old once), and it was just the most awesome experience. Our trick on that last move was to get up early and stop early in the day, always at a hotel with a pool and let our boy unleash all that pent up energy. Would Thumper play with disposable cameras, yet? That helped too.
Posted by: Lauren Keim
This is one of those “It’s a good thing I love you more than anything” moments.
It’s just stuff and you’ll feel lighter when it’s gone. I know, I’ve been decluttering since we bought our house last Christmas. I feel great everytime something else leaves the house.
Posted by: Steph
I am mourning for your moleskine! But if you can get over that you will definitely have no problem getting rid of things.
Posted by: Kristin
Wow. Thumper is dealing out some seriously tough love if he did that to teach you a lesson!
While my house didn’t burn down (oh my, YTT!!), I am feeling a bit of your pain — I lost my knitting bag last week. Two nearly complete projects. (See http://emmieyiza.blogspot.com/2007/08/tragic-loss.html for the sad details.) I’m totally bereft, and I still have a pattern I can recreate from – no where near as tragic as the notebook!
My deepest condolences! And good luck in your journey towards non-attachment with Zen Master Thumper!
Posted by: Emily
could thumper chew on carrots to help his teeth? Or there are cold teething rings I bought for my neice which were a big hit.
Losing things.
it’s hard, and sometimes I feel like goodybe and good riddence. I believe you to be a gifted writer and as someone said that it might just be the cosmos saying “yeah, that was good, but you can do a whole lot better.”
Label boxes
pack yarn around fragile things
craig’ list
Good Will
Dump runs
I remember them well.
Patty
Posted by: Patty
oh, i’m sorry.
Posted by: mrspilkington
Ah, perspective. Sometimes it comes at quite a price. I’m sorry you lost your notebook, sweetie.
Posted by: alison
Yish, I feel like I’m going through this with you since my new place closes on the 23rd.
Think of decluttering this way – If your house burned down, what would you really feed bad about losing? The rest can be replaced and could even be fun to replace.
Posted by: Laurie
Oh! I’ve just been dealing with my little guy pulling out books and notebooks and binders of sketches and rumpling them, not even tearing pages but just making wrinkles and creases in the pursuit of his favorite crinkly sounds. I think its time to relocate that stuff out of his reach, but it’s probably time to let go of some of it before the Universe reaches in and does it for me. When I lose a good idea, I try to remember that inspiration always keeps flowing, and tomorrow’s fresh idea is likely to be better than yesterday’s old one. Best of luck in getting things packed for the move.
Posted by: Saralyn
This reminds me of a time when I was going through a really rough, not-speaking patch with my Dad. My then 21/2 year old son totally accidentally bumped into a vase my dad had given me years ago. Oh, how I loved that little vase. I tried to calm myself by saying, “this is about attachment.” The Buddha would say, “this is a lesson in non-attachment.” Of course my very next thought was, “Screw the Buddha, I want my vase!!”
My dad and I have reached a new, wonderful stage of our relationship, and he recently gave me an-almost the same vase, only better. Like us. So maybe this is about re-birth as much as it is loss…
Lauren
P.S. I’ve moved across the country twice (driving both, pets both, three-year-old once), and it was just the most awesome experience. Our trick on that last move was to get up early and stop early in the day, always at a hotel with a pool and let our boy unleash all that pent up energy. Would Thumper play with disposable cameras, yet? That helped too.
Posted by: Lauren Keim
This is one of those “It’s a good thing I love you more than anything” moments.
It’s just stuff and you’ll feel lighter when it’s gone. I know, I’ve been decluttering since we bought our house last Christmas. I feel great everytime something else leaves the house.
Posted by: Steph
I am mourning for your moleskine! But if you can get over that you will definitely have no problem getting rid of things.
Posted by: Kristin
Wow. Thumper is dealing out some seriously tough love if he did that to teach you a lesson!
While my house didn’t burn down (oh my, YTT!!), I am feeling a bit of your pain — I lost my knitting bag last week. Two nearly complete projects. (See http://emmieyiza.blogspot.com/2007/08/tragic-loss.html for the sad details.) I’m totally bereft, and I still have a pattern I can recreate from – no where near as tragic as the notebook!
My deepest condolences! And good luck in your journey towards non-attachment with Zen Master Thumper!
Posted by: Emily
could thumper chew on carrots to help his teeth? Or there are cold teething rings I bought for my neice which were a big hit.
Losing things.
it’s hard, and sometimes I feel like goodybe and good riddence. I believe you to be a gifted writer and as someone said that it might just be the cosmos saying “yeah, that was good, but you can do a whole lot better.”
Label boxes
pack yarn around fragile things
craig’ list
Good Will
Dump runs
I remember them well.
Patty
Posted by: Patty
oh, i’m sorry.
Posted by: mrspilkington
Ah, perspective. Sometimes it comes at quite a price. I’m sorry you lost your notebook, sweetie.
Posted by: alison
Yish, I feel like I’m going through this with you since my new place closes on the 23rd.
Think of decluttering this way – If your house burned down, what would you really feed bad about losing? The rest can be replaced and could even be fun to replace.
Posted by: Laurie
I sooooooo feel for you. And feel you. Take the next week off. Go have some fun, don’t do any packing. After that, with the pressure of time, you’ll cheerfully get rid of stuff you never thought you could. I’m mostly not kidding.
(our stuff’s been in storage for a year. i don’t remember what’s there, and i’m starting not to care if the warehouse burns down)
Posted by: valentina
Purging is good! What’s even better is if we could all figure out how to not acquire all that stuff in the first place. I think it sneaks into the house late at night and when we’re on vacation.
Posted by: Jenni
Better the book than the boy (that’s where I thought this post was heading – with you leaping in the water to save him)
Posted by: Krista
Holy crap, the kid’s already giving you the tough love. Geez.
I’m sorry for the loss of your notebook, but it sounds like you’ve deftly put it in perspective. Good luck with the continued moving.
Posted by: David
Wow. I read this then sat around looking at all the stuff and clutter that I have accumulated over the years that has a lot of meaning and memories to me and began to wonder just how much of it I would be able to part with if I was in your position. Hopefully, within the next few years, I will be in your position, moving to an exciting new place and starting fresh. The thought of parting with some of my stuff scares me though. There is so much emotion that can be attached to having to let go of things. Good luck!!!
Posted by: MissAmErika
oh you poor thing you must be heartbroken, I guess things come and go…
couldn’t find anywhere else to let you know so am commenting here, thanks for your yoda jumper pattern, my mum’s just knit one for my new baby boy – pic here http://www.flickr.com/photos/ladyfort/1091465919/
(she inserted an extra panel down each side to make it a little bigger so it fits in autumn / winter when he most needs to be snuggly).
thanks ever so much for sharing the pattern
Posted by: SallyF
Whoof. That’s divestiture in the big leagues…
This might not be a bad time to pick up a copy of The Clothes They Stood Up In, by Alan Bennett — it’s a different kind of loss, but might feel like the right scale.
Best of luck in the rest of the process.
Posted by: Karen
Wow, that would make me very sad. Is there no way to retrieve it, even if it’s a bit water damaged?
Posted by: connie
I sooooooo feel for you. And feel you. Take the next week off. Go have some fun, don’t do any packing. After that, with the pressure of time, you’ll cheerfully get rid of stuff you never thought you could. I’m mostly not kidding.
(our stuff’s been in storage for a year. i don’t remember what’s there, and i’m starting not to care if the warehouse burns down)
Posted by: valentina
Purging is good! What’s even better is if we could all figure out how to not acquire all that stuff in the first place. I think it sneaks into the house late at night and when we’re on vacation.
Posted by: Jenni
Better the book than the boy (that’s where I thought this post was heading – with you leaping in the water to save him)
Posted by: Krista
Holy crap, the kid’s already giving you the tough love. Geez.
I’m sorry for the loss of your notebook, but it sounds like you’ve deftly put it in perspective. Good luck with the continued moving.
Posted by: David
Wow. I read this then sat around looking at all the stuff and clutter that I have accumulated over the years that has a lot of meaning and memories to me and began to wonder just how much of it I would be able to part with if I was in your position. Hopefully, within the next few years, I will be in your position, moving to an exciting new place and starting fresh. The thought of parting with some of my stuff scares me though. There is so much emotion that can be attached to having to let go of things. Good luck!!!
Posted by: MissAmErika
oh you poor thing you must be heartbroken, I guess things come and go…
couldn’t find anywhere else to let you know so am commenting here, thanks for your yoda jumper pattern, my mum’s just knit one for my new baby boy – pic here http://www.flickr.com/photos/ladyfort/1091465919/
(she inserted an extra panel down each side to make it a little bigger so it fits in autumn / winter when he most needs to be snuggly).
thanks ever so much for sharing the pattern
Posted by: SallyF
Whoof. That’s divestiture in the big leagues…
This might not be a bad time to pick up a copy of The Clothes They Stood Up In, by Alan Bennett — it’s a different kind of loss, but might feel like the right scale.
Best of luck in the rest of the process.
Posted by: Karen
Wow, that would make me very sad. Is there no way to retrieve it, even if it’s a bit water damaged?
Posted by: connie
Losing your notebook stinks but try to keep it in perspective!!!
Posted by: Barbara
My stomach did a flip when I read about the notebook…and it wasn’t even mine.
You are stronger than I am. I would’ve sobbed for days if that was one of my notebooks.
((HUGS))
Posted by: Anna
When I moved in with my husband I was so sad to be leaving my old place I cried. But when all my crates were delivered a week later it just looked like a ton of junk, I couldn’t wait to get rid of it. I now think twice before I buy anything, especially if I can clearly picture it in a boot fair (I think you call them yard sales) in a few years time. Good luck.
Posted by: Cindy (UK)
Well, the moleskine loss just brings you one step closer to being a “great” writer – by which I mean more famous, not more talented. Wasn’t it Hemingway who lost (or accused his wife of losing) a briefcase of writing on a train? And I think Garrison Keillor spoke of a similar experience, real or fictional. It will just push you to write something as wonderful as what was in that notebook – which will seem more and more wonderful all the time.
Posted by: Jenn
oh god…i have two moleskines that are just like yours. It would be devastating. Yes, you can survive, but oh boy, Thumper, you owe mommy BIG TIME.
Posted by: Amy
Losing your notebook stinks but try to keep it in perspective!!!
Posted by: Barbara
My stomach did a flip when I read about the notebook…and it wasn’t even mine.
You are stronger than I am. I would’ve sobbed for days if that was one of my notebooks.
((HUGS))
Posted by: Anna
When I moved in with my husband I was so sad to be leaving my old place I cried. But when all my crates were delivered a week later it just looked like a ton of junk, I couldn’t wait to get rid of it. I now think twice before I buy anything, especially if I can clearly picture it in a boot fair (I think you call them yard sales) in a few years time. Good luck.
Posted by: Cindy (UK)
Well, the moleskine loss just brings you one step closer to being a “great” writer – by which I mean more famous, not more talented. Wasn’t it Hemingway who lost (or accused his wife of losing) a briefcase of writing on a train? And I think Garrison Keillor spoke of a similar experience, real or fictional. It will just push you to write something as wonderful as what was in that notebook – which will seem more and more wonderful all the time.
Posted by: Jenn
oh god…i have two moleskines that are just like yours. It would be devastating. Yes, you can survive, but oh boy, Thumper, you owe mommy BIG TIME.
Posted by: Amy