Watching an organizer commit to no shopping is something I could get behind. I worry about our carbon footprint...as good for clothing but take flights as family is far away.
Memories can be uplifting when remembered with the right people. - so true, Abby. One of my favourite memories of 2024 was meeting you face to face to celebrate Suleika Jaouad’s Art Yard art show. Hanging with you and our fellow TIJ members in Philadelphia and in Frenchtown felt like a “coming home” after only knowing one another via TIJ Facebook page since April 1, 2020.
I completely agree! That was a weekend to remember! I'm so grateful we were able to do that. Even the last day, getting Mexican food with you and Linda, was perfection.
First of all, I love a prank—I used to get paid to call radio stations and prank folks on the side. Second of all, I remain grateful most evidence of me from 18-30 sits in boxes in my own home. Third, nothing beats reconnecting with an old friend who still considers themselves a friend. Glad it was a good night!
That scene in Mad Men always makes me cry. I love your note that memories don’t have to be crushing. I, too, am going through some life shifts right now (moving from working in an office to working at home to better accommodate life as a mom), and I feel the most sadness about not seeing dear colleagues each day. But I’ve been determined to keep in touch in other ways. This post inspired me even more. Thanks, Abby.
Thanks, Anna. Those transitions are always hard, especially as you pointed out, when they involve leaving friends. I'm struggling with that as I work toward relocating from my home town of almost 30 years to a beach town two hours away. The good thing about these days is that we do have technology to make keeping in touch easier. Kind of the opposite of what I said in my post. Maybe the answer is a combination of tech and old-school effort. xo
Oh, Abby!! As always, your writings punch me right in the gut! You so masterfully describe my feelings when going through boxes full of nostalgia! Bittersweet as my favorite kind of chocolate! And I’m pretty sure I couldn’t cut out retail therapy for an entire year!! Especially this year as I will NEED therapy!! ❤️❤️❤️
Aw, thanks, Linda. We are ALL going to need therapy this year. I can't even with what's coming. I have found it cathartic to get rid of two items a day. The trick is to go small. Like old makeup or things in the junk drawer. Or the mostly empty hair product bottles stacked up in my bathroom.
Oh goodness, this is a lovely piece. I’ve been feeling particularly nostalgic lately — time to go through those old boxes in the basement and hopefully reconnect with a long lost friend like you did.
Memories really are so tricky. I remember when I was writing the first draft of my memoir and reading through 20 years of my journals, and wow, the memories were bittersweet in so many ways. Love this post, Abby! And you're making me want to re-watch Mad Men. ;-)
I love this piece, Abby. Just today, my daughter, who is visiting a friend in Chicago, asked me some of addresses of places I lived in my twenties after college. She and her friend drove past many of my old haunts. I sent her the address of the house where my great-great grandfather lived near where she is staying. I have a photo of a fun typewritten toast given to a relative at a birthday celebration at that home in 1917. The home was built in 1893 and is still there. She and her friend took a photo of the house and sent it to me!
Love this! I have recently been decluttering our house one room and a time and unearthed so many treasures, memories, even surprises squirreled away—things my mother or grandmother had saved that I tossed in a box decades ago. I was too young then to understand nostalgia in all its forms but they knew this day would come for me.
Watching an organizer commit to no shopping is something I could get behind. I worry about our carbon footprint...as good for clothing but take flights as family is far away.
Yes. My family are spread across the country.
Memories can be uplifting when remembered with the right people. - so true, Abby. One of my favourite memories of 2024 was meeting you face to face to celebrate Suleika Jaouad’s Art Yard art show. Hanging with you and our fellow TIJ members in Philadelphia and in Frenchtown felt like a “coming home” after only knowing one another via TIJ Facebook page since April 1, 2020.
I completely agree! That was a weekend to remember! I'm so grateful we were able to do that. Even the last day, getting Mexican food with you and Linda, was perfection.
Yes. You were such a gracious host. Spending that extra, unexpected meal and time with you and Linda was a very special indeed.
First of all, I love a prank—I used to get paid to call radio stations and prank folks on the side. Second of all, I remain grateful most evidence of me from 18-30 sits in boxes in my own home. Third, nothing beats reconnecting with an old friend who still considers themselves a friend. Glad it was a good night!
Thanks! Ditto about evidence. So grateful we weren't on display or trackable 24/7.
That scene in Mad Men always makes me cry. I love your note that memories don’t have to be crushing. I, too, am going through some life shifts right now (moving from working in an office to working at home to better accommodate life as a mom), and I feel the most sadness about not seeing dear colleagues each day. But I’ve been determined to keep in touch in other ways. This post inspired me even more. Thanks, Abby.
Thanks, Anna. Those transitions are always hard, especially as you pointed out, when they involve leaving friends. I'm struggling with that as I work toward relocating from my home town of almost 30 years to a beach town two hours away. The good thing about these days is that we do have technology to make keeping in touch easier. Kind of the opposite of what I said in my post. Maybe the answer is a combination of tech and old-school effort. xo
A beautiful expression of your experience. ❤️
Oh, Abby!! As always, your writings punch me right in the gut! You so masterfully describe my feelings when going through boxes full of nostalgia! Bittersweet as my favorite kind of chocolate! And I’m pretty sure I couldn’t cut out retail therapy for an entire year!! Especially this year as I will NEED therapy!! ❤️❤️❤️
Aw, thanks, Linda. We are ALL going to need therapy this year. I can't even with what's coming. I have found it cathartic to get rid of two items a day. The trick is to go small. Like old makeup or things in the junk drawer. Or the mostly empty hair product bottles stacked up in my bathroom.
Now THAT I can do! Getting rid of garbage definitely counts!! 😂❤️
Oh goodness, this is a lovely piece. I’ve been feeling particularly nostalgic lately — time to go through those old boxes in the basement and hopefully reconnect with a long lost friend like you did.
Thanks, Sacha!
Beautiful post, Abby! We can meet old friends again in new ways.
Thanks, Joelle!
Memories really are so tricky. I remember when I was writing the first draft of my memoir and reading through 20 years of my journals, and wow, the memories were bittersweet in so many ways. Love this post, Abby! And you're making me want to re-watch Mad Men. ;-)
I made myself want to rewatch! And yes. I went through old journals for my memoir and it was traumatic reliving some very difficult times.
I know exactly what you mean. Very thankful for a wonderful therapist while writing that draft.
Yep, ditto!
I love this piece, Abby. Just today, my daughter, who is visiting a friend in Chicago, asked me some of addresses of places I lived in my twenties after college. She and her friend drove past many of my old haunts. I sent her the address of the house where my great-great grandfather lived near where she is staying. I have a photo of a fun typewritten toast given to a relative at a birthday celebration at that home in 1917. The home was built in 1893 and is still there. She and her friend took a photo of the house and sent it to me!
Hi Marnie! That's super cool that your daughter and her friend did that. Such history there.
Thankyou for an inspiring read Abby.
Thank you for reading! Your writing inspires me as well.
Love this! I have recently been decluttering our house one room and a time and unearthed so many treasures, memories, even surprises squirreled away—things my mother or grandmother had saved that I tossed in a box decades ago. I was too young then to understand nostalgia in all its forms but they knew this day would come for me.
This is the best and hardest part of decluttering. The memories and desire to hold onto something tangible will always trip me up.