Out of Chaos, Treasures

A deck of "How to Tell Time" flash cards; do-it-yourself, pink invitation kit; a package of brightly colored construction paper; Rapunzel paper dolls; a plastic bag filled with "Plantation Mint" tea; an unopened copy of the 2006 Journal of Privacy Law; numerous, unmarked discs; envelopes full of photos; letters and cards; package of calligraphy pens; old hotel bills and used airline tickets; more photos; term paper from 1975; a book of "Maxine" sayings; box of old birthday cards (sent to me); old books - "Guide to Proper Etiquette"; stacks of business cards; restaurant menus; receipts; a book of Jimmy Buffet lyrics; used notebooks chronicling grocery story visits, things to do and design ideas; more photos. . .and the treasures go on and on.

This is why it is taking me nearly two years to clean out and reorganize my home office. It started out with a big trash bag and a couple boxes. There are now half a dozen boxes whose contents have been sorted and resorted a dozen times. Each time I look in a box I am confused about the commonality of the contents; thus the items are resorted.

I have found enough office supplies to outfit a regional office of IBM. The stacks of unmarked discs require hours at the computer reviewing the contents and sorting and saving in other locations. Sometimes the discs are blank. I've discovered that there is one disc I keep reviewing over and over and have yet to appropriately label it; every time I look at it, I change the description; and, the description is becoming less and less meaningful.

Every time that I resolve to "get it cleaned out today", I find a dog-eared book or magazine and settle in to read each of the dog-eared pages to find out why I turned downed the page in the first place. I look at each photograph as if I had never seen it before. Then time is up; I create a new "pile" or box and leave it for another day and go about creating new stacks and files. Once I found a file that had paid off notes from my parents' homes long since sold. It is hard for me to dispose of such "history". I suspect that I am the only one that finds value in these treasures.

In spite of the apparent disarray, I do have a method to this madness. I can usually find what I'm looking for within thirty minutes. Each time I pull an ancient document, report or magazine article from the stacks, I conclude that I did "save" it for a reason. I knew I would need to use it again.

I leave the office and close the door. I go into the kitchen to make dinner and I find a stack of papers, mail, magazines, books and photos sitting on a side chair in the breakfast area. The stacks are multiplying. I spend my obligatory thirty minutes on that pile sorting and designating "trash". There are items that I'm not sure about. Back onto the stack they go. Dinner awaits.

Later in the evening as I prepare for bed I look at my night table. There is a basket full of mail and letters and notes and business cards. There is a stack of books - some unread, some begun and some completed. There are several notebooks - one with quotes and writing ideas - one with things to do - one with party guest lists.

Ironically I have a little OCD regarding the placement of photos, art and collectibles in my home. Too bad I don't have OCD regarding papers, books and unframed photos. I do my best to manage the chaos in my life. I just wish that chaos wasn't so damned interesting.