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Seven more tomorrows
(by Jennifer Botkin Phillips - March 12, 2008)
Like the precocious 11-year-old orphan belting out the tune in the musical, Annie, based on the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, Annie sings, “Tomorrow, tomorrow, … is just a day away,” we too are no doubt belting out our own tune while waiting for the arrival of spring.
The anticipation of saying good-riddance to the cold is building while we wait for this last week of winter to pass. The very word “spring” evokes visions of renewal and change, sheets hung out to flap in the breeze, and makes us eager to absorb every facet of the season that begins only seven days away.
The past few weeks of balmy weather with buckets of rain and milder temperatures has already put me in a spring spirit. No more wearing bulky coats (hopefully), placing scarves double wrapped around my neck, and making sure I don’t leave home without my hat and gloves.
Last week with the welcome surprise of a mild day, I couldn’t resist the beckoning hues of freshly cut flowers at DePiero’s, and indulged in purchasing a bouquet of bright pink and crimson tulips. The burst of color in the arrangement I placed on a small table in my living room made for a happy greeting each morning. It’s affirmative. I’m more than ready for the brilliant floral colors that will soon brighten our
Pascack
Valley landscape.
Each year by this time, it seems we are all counting the days until spring. Enough of shoveling snow, scrapping ice, and schlepping about in fur lined boots. By this juncture on our calendar we’re more than ready to embrace our recent “spring forward” from falling back and make a seamless transition for welcoming new opportunities that wait, or new ventures we will take.
My excitement over the coming of spring is getting the best of me, and I feel a bit like a bobble doll on the dashboard of a boat-sized car. With spring also comes the burst of ads. There are the ads that lure us to shed our holiday pounds and reshape our bodies in preparation for spring fashions. Along with the resizing ads comes another form of spring action from the clutter queens and professional organizers. Which do I do first? Get in better shape from cutting calories and exercising, or get more organized from clearing clutter and cleaning out stuff? Help! I need both. Right now.
Jamie Novak, (www.jamienovak.com) a clutter queen and professional organizer I heard speak shared her “18 minute” rule. Her premise is that you can do anything for 18 minutes; clean out a drawer, clear off a counter, tackle the “in” box on your desk, or even clear the clutter from the catchall kitchen drawer. Since I’m one of those who attach to every piece of paper that has ever crossed my hands I’m going to need many “18 minute” sessions before completing spring-cleaning.
When Jamie opened her seminar to take questions I pondered asking my silly question. My dilemma is that I have about seven or eight mid-sized bags and a few shoe-sized boxes full of old cards that date back to probably the first card each of my three daughters gave me. They cover Mother’s Day, nearly every birthday card going back to their first hand made scribbles on construction paper, and their Christmas cards. Included in my shrine of sentimentality are also letters from mom, postcards from family members on vacation, and special notes of encouragement from my aunts.
I did ask my silly question after all. “Space is a hot commodity in my dwelling … what do I do with all these letters and cards?” I felt relieved upon learning I wasn’t the only one in the room who faced the “saving old cards” dilemma.
The answer that came was gently prudent and affirming, I thought. “Yes, keep them but sift through and only keep the cream of the crop,” Jamie stated. She went on to suggest getting a decorative photo box for storing my treasures. By doing that, I could significantly whittle down the stacks of penned missives I’ve been stuffing in one corner and then another. Sounds reasonable enough and like a method I believe I can actually abide by.
The calorie cutting, however, may prove to be the bigger challenge. I just learned that my 45th class reunion from my high school graduating class of ’63 (gosh, am I that old?), back in
California would be held in October. There’s nothing like the thought of an upcoming class reunion for resizing motivation! With spring coming and the promise of being outdoors more often followed in three months with the summer taking me up to the beginning of autumn, yes, there’s hope for a total physical re-compartmentalization of my assets.
But, first things first, and right now spring fever is about to burst with all the hope that just seven more tomorrows can bring.
Until next time… Top Blonde… on the run.
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