Hoarder Confessions

Inspired by the fire that threatened my folks’ home town of Herriman and the couple of families that lost their homes as well as all the contents in them, I’ve wondered if I’d be alright losing all the items in my home since I’m a hoarder. Not the kind where there are pathways lined with crap throughout the rooms of the house. I’m the kind that cannot part with anything that may have the slightest sentimental value that I’ve added to it. I’m emotionally attached to every piece of paper that enters my house! I don’t have pricey items, I don’t have extravagant items, but I do have stuff that mean special things to me.

Maybe it was the way I was raised with a food storage filled with canned goods to last at least a week and mom’s old graduation dress in the basement closet. I don’t remember my parents tossing out their hoarded items, even junk mail. I come by it honestly.

Now that I live in “Tornado Alley”, my Hero frowns upon too big of a food pantry because he said that no one wants to get killed by a can of green beans being hurled at their head with tornado force winds. So, my hoarded items are more of the paper type, shoes and purses.

What would I grab in the moments before knowing that I may lose it all to a tornado or impending fire?

I’ve actually left my home before fearing a tornado and didn’t take anything with me except my purse and my family. I left my beloved scrapbooks and genealogy book. I left all my clothes, shoes, important papers, jewelry, even my car. My family ran for my husband’s car and drove to the nearest tornado shelter and never looked back for our crap. None of it even crossed my mind at the time.

Why can’t I just throw it away? Actually choose to toss it? My Princess has no problem throwing out unwanted items. Each year she goes through her whole room and takes out bags of out dated belongings. I cringe at the thought of what could be in those bags! There will be items in those bags that I will be emotionally attached to. I don’t even look anymore, because they are her items and I’m trying hard to learn from her how to throw my crap away!

Today, if I had to run to the car in fear of losing it all, I bet I’d just go with my family and not let any of my hoarded crap cross my mind.