Embracing Clutter

I was parking at the library today and was beside a small car that was advertising a small business. It said “Emily’s Cure for Clutter”. My immediate thought was that MY cure for clutter would be to divorce my husband. As you might know, he is the absolute junk-thriving person on this earth. He still has his grade six Spanish books. I constantly tell him that I think the Spanish language has evolved in the almost sixty years since then! Nevertheless.

These past few weeks, we had a flood in the basement. A full out flood. Jim diligently found the right person to fix the leak. That is not surprising; Jim has tons of people in his life just waiting to be asked to help him. Cause he helps them without even considering any quid pro quo. So they are ever at the ready.

The leak is fixed. And now Jim has to take steps to soak up all the water in the basement. Lands alive! He has decided to put things in the GARBAGE! Fifteen year old stereos; ten year old computer parts; light bulbs for lights we have long since replaced; a chair that we bought for Corey when he was about ten (he is now twenty eight) not-quite-resplendent with no stuffing and squeaky wheels. I am positively amazed. It is a small step, but life happens in baby steps.

The stuff sits out at the curb -- for – oh about ten minutes – and people drive up to ferry away JIM’S JUNK. Since the stuff was gone all too quickly, Jim wonders whether maybe he erred – perhaps it was valuable stuff to begin with. Otherwise, why would it have found a new home so quickly? I remind him of one of my Mom’s expressions “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure”. He visibly relaxes.

He is thinking it is maybe time to retire the Spanish books?

I delight inside. Even though Jim clutters up my life, he is the absolute best thing that ever happened to me. He makes me smile with his dogged determination to find something worthwhile in every piece of junk that crosses his path and it reminds me of how he finds the very best in everyone that he meets. He is loved for that; and I am the most fortunate person on this earth who gets to share the clutter of his life with him.

So, Emily, I think I have the “cure”. Want to come and meet Jim? You will find clutter, but you will walk away with a new friend. And you and he might start a new business called “JIM’S JUNK”. Roll out the Spanish.