Daily affirmations of a word mercenary
Our move was easy! We had tons of help from friends on Saturday, and the whole thing was over in about 3 hours. Awesomeness!
Now is the interesting part: unpacking a 3br house into a 1br flat. We got rid of a lot of stuff, but we just keep paring down. As I’m sifting through all my worldly possessions and trying to figure out what I need and what I’ve got too much of, I’m realizing that I’ve got an overabundance of certain objects … all of them gifts. Which makes them extra hard to get rid of.
See, Andreas and I seem to attract certain types of presents, and while each gift has been deeply appreciated and a great idea, but I have several boxes full of duplicated great ideas that I’m now guilt-battling to say “I don’t need all of these, get rid of some.” I’m finding good homes for everything, but in the effort to not have to give away gifts, I send out this entreaty.
Beloved friends and family, please resist the urge to give us any of the following this holiday season:
TEAPOTS
Total number we have: Six (and this is after giving away several)
Why do we have so many? Because in a coffee drinking world, everyone finds it novel that Dre and I chug tea in the morning. We do indeed love our teapots, but one can only drink so much before getting saturated.
What to give instead? Tea! Especially black tea and spicy herbals.
CHOPSTICKS
Total number we have: Approximately 20 sets
Why do we have so many? Because we’re known to enjoy sushi, Thai, and other Asian cuisines. This has made us an easy target for chopstick sets.
What to give instead? Gift certificates to our favorite Asian restaurants like Jamjuree, Pho Cyclo, etc.
DRAGONFLY TCHOTCHKES
Total number I have: More than I can count
Why do I have so many: I got a dragonfly tattoo on my right bicep in 1996, inadvertently identifying the insect as some sort of totem animal. I now own dozens of bits of dragonfly jewelry, clothing, art, stuffed animals, dishes, lamps, etc.
What to give instead: Dog sweaters. Sassafras gets cold!
I realize this list probably makes me sound like an ungrateful wretch. What’s worse: sounding ungrateful, or giving away a gift someone lovingly picked out for you not knowing you already had 8 of the same thing?
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5 Responses to “Sifting”
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Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, was published last year.
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Kai
September 17th, 2007 at 11:30 am
I just about fell off my chair laughing when I read this.
I finally gave away the last of my many, many sushi sets last year. A hardcore tea drinker, I also used to own several teapots (all gifts) but now I’m back to one, the first I ever bought.
In the early 90s, I developed a ‘thing’ for cows. Soon, I was the owner of every cow tchotchhke ever conceived, including a painted wooden cow that played ‘Old MacDonald Had a Farm’ when you pressed on his right nostril. My garage sale had a cow theme.
As I continue to pare down, my biggest struggle is books - oh, how I love my books! (I’m down to 353 from over 1500).
Of course, I drive my family crazy by telling them that I don’t need more stuff. I loved all of your ideas for alternative non-stuff gifts!
amy.leblanc
September 17th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
a while back, i put up a similar post about getting rid of gifts and received a lot of “my, you’re ungrateful” messages, and i don’t think my mother ever really understood when i said “please stop sending me boxes full of toys/trinkets/randomthingsyouboughtatWalmart”. i’m not one for figurines, candle-holders, decorated photo frames, vases, or pretty much any other non-utilitarian decor, but i seem to accumulate loads of it. i don’t find much guilt in sending it off to the local goodwill or regifting soon after receipt - i appreciate the sentiments when i receive the gifts, but how long should i feel obligated to let these things sit and gather dust on shelves if i’m not using them and never will? this kind of guilt seems to be the result of a very possession-attachment-oriented society, and i just can’t let it get to me. if someone else would use and enjoy the object more than i would, i think it’s better to send it off. if that offends the gift giver…it seems to me that’s more their problem in not recognizing your desire to keep your life and possessions minimalist and simple.
nanirolls
September 17th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Bravo to you for clearing up this issue for people! Far from being an ungrateful wretch, I think you did your friends/family a favor. No one wants to give a gift that won’t be totally satisfying.
BOSSY
September 19th, 2007 at 4:12 am
Welcome home.
yara
September 24th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
i read a great idea for freeing one up to give away those gifts, if you’re having a hard time parting with something sentimental but that you either never use or have too many of. take a photo of yourselves with it in action and then write on the back who the giver was, what it was for, etc. if it’s “the thought that counts”, then a photo is just as good as in person.
that said, we own three sushi sets from our wedding and enough Tiffany cut-glass bowls/vases to start our own store. i don’t eat sushi, and i loathe cut-glass. it’s sitting in carboard boxes that i haven’t opened in any one of the moves we’ve made in the last 6 years. good for you for asking for what you want and letting go of what you don’t! i’m inspired!