The Great Give Away
During this journey, we’ve talked to people who said they gave much of their furniture and cherished items to friends and family. They told us it made letting go easier than trying to sell things at a garage or tag sale. That’s what we tried yesterday.
To prepare, Mikey poured his energy into finishing the main bedroom and arranging the furniture. He put up crown molding, fixed the ceiling, patched holes, and painted. Having the room set up allowed us to display the king-size bed and the rest of the pieces with some care.
I turned my attention to the attic, pulling down boxes of decorations. One by one, I sorted through them, setting aside the things we truly wanted to keep. By the end, the floor was covered with tubs of holiday pieces, keepsakes, and odds and ends—reminders of years gone by.
Together, we worked to get the house ready. We scrubbed the kitchen and bathrooms, dusted furniture, and vacuumed—twice, thanks to the dog hair.
When the first guest arrived, the house wasn’t as polished as I had pictured. Some items weren’t out, and many boxes were still closed. We ran out of time for that final touch-up I had hoped for.
And then—it happened. Only five friends came. We enjoyed spending time with those who came and appreciated that they stopped by. One had let us know they couldn’t make it, but the others simply didn’t show. So there we were, with five guests and a house still full of furniture. Today, aside from the piano, everything remains.
At first, I felt frustrated—not because I expected everything to be gone, but because I thought more friends would show up in support. With a little distance, though, I see it differently. Letting go isn’t about how quickly the furniture leaves the house; it’s about opening the door to what comes next. The pieces that didn’t move yesterday will still find their way to new homes—maybe with neighbors, maybe with new friends we haven’t even met yet.
The best thing, Mikey celebrated his birthday with five friends we made while we have been in Connecticut. Happy Birthday!
Mikey created the thumbnail. Funny thing, AI thinks Uruguay is in Africa.
Yesterday was just one step in the process. And sometimes, steps don’t go as planned. But each one still moves us forward.
Countdown 31 more days!
