Spared

"Good coffee and old stories are two of life's glories"--GK

A few weeks ago, I schlepped a big black trash bag of sundry contents to the trash bin in my garage. My husband happened to be in the garage and glanced at me with a bit of curiosity. I looked at him and said, "Look away. Just look away. I am in a purging mood and this bag of stuff needs to be gone." When his eyebrows raised, I added, "There is nothing in here that belongs to you. I promise."

It is true. I am a purger. It is also true that I do not purge his stuff. Mostly. Few moments give me more satisfaction than ousting goods that I deem obsolete or annoying. Acquiring and keeping new possessions must always pass the Big 3 for me: Do you fill a need (not want!)? Are you worth cleaning? Are you worthy of the space you inhabit? If the answer is no to any of the questions, the item will not be a permanent resident in my house.

That being said, I do have belongings that are safe from my grim reaper's bag, so far. Here are a few.

1) Garrison Keillor mugs.--We are a family of coffee drinkers so it doesn't take long for a collection of travel mugs, cups and souvenirs to accumulate. We have a valid need for mugs but our real estate space can only support so many receptacles. I have tossed out many cups along the way, but my Keillor mugs have never been on the chopping block. They bring me too much joy. I love to start my day with a steaming cup of coffee in a mug adorned with a few words of wisdom from Lake Wobegon such as "growing up in a place that has winter, you learn to avoid self-pity."

2)  Oil dispenser.--My daughter gave me a funky looking cooking oil dispenser as a gift. It is the kind of thing I would never have purchased on my own. Why go through the work of pouring oil into another container when the original one works just fine? What I didn't expect is how convenient a pour spout can be. Rather than spending time undoing a lid, glugging a sheen of oil in a pan and replacing said lid, I now just grab and pour, meting out the right amount of oil. And, the dispenser looks much more attractive on my counter than a Mazola bottle.

3) Sugar pig.--I come from a family of hog producers so my connection to the little oinkers is only once removed. I certainly do not collect little piggie things but many years ago I was given the gift of a blue ceramic pig. It is used to hold and dispense sugar. As with the oil dispenser, it is not something I would willfully purchase. But, to my surprise, the cute little porker has earned its keep. Its chubby shape is just the right size for grabbing when a little sugar is needed. And its innocent demeanor reminds me that everything is better with a bit of sweetness.

I am still in a pitchy mood but I also know it is wise to take breaks from my fits of dumping. I can get a little overzealous and make my world too spartan at times. And, my husband needs a break from bulging black trash bags being suspiciously mashed into the trash bin.