NEW LIFE

This is one of those days when I have so many ideas for posts in my head that I don’t know where to start.  The downsizing is taking on a life of its own and really a lot of fun.  At first, I was just throwing things in the trash.  I did that until I stopped because it wasn’t trash.  Someone needed to have it.  I know, I know.  There are no Salvation Army and Good Will bins around here.  There are places to “drop things off”, but you need a car to do that.  OR, you need to be able to walk to the bin with a load of things. 

SO, I started taking things down to the basement and leaving them by the building’s trash cans.  In that way, someone unknown – in this big building with a lot of apartments – was getting something nice and unexpected.  That made me feel good.  Something I loved and still wanted was getting “new life” with someone else.  And, the argument I gave myself, and am still giving myself, is “do you want to PAY to take this (whatever it is/was)  to Paris?’  That argument would get me out the door and to the elevator to “-1”.  Once I got back on the elevator and got back to my apartment, I would be fine.   

This morning, I took down some office supplies (heavy-duty stapler and staples, hole -puncher, and other small things), a briefcase, a quilt and two pillows from Sarasota days, and some books I wanted.  Haha.  Whether I want it or not still enters the picture, but less and less as I count my pennies and know the size of the apartment and amount of storage in Paris.  That helps me to “let go”. 

PLUS, I have sold things on Facebook’s Market Place.  That was scary at first, until I got the hang of it.  Now, I am better at negotiating and dealing with the French.  You would think that the people buying would be English-speaking.  Most are French and so I am conversing in French.  So far, so good.  And, nice people have been buying my things.  So far, I have made over 1,000 euros.  That has helped me get to Paris, pay some bills, and given me a tad of a cushion during October and November (I got the left knee the gel shots – not covered by insurance). 

I have all this silver from years of using on holidays when my children were young.  Now, it takes up space and is very tarnished.  My kids are long gone and don’t want silver goblets or silver-plated trays, bowls, gravy bowls, compotes, etc.  So, I checked to see what was sterling, if anything.  I am keeping that – tarnished as it is, and giving away the rest.  I am not going to polish it and maybe some of the people in this building will be thrilled to have it.  Imagine!  Leaving tarnished silver-plated serving dishes by the trash bins.  Someone ALWAYS takes it because I have checked.  For some reason, that makes me happy. 

When I first started posting items on Marketplace, I overpriced them until I realized that my things were special ONLY to me and not worth much of anything.  That realization changed my pricing.  I began to let things go “on the cheap” because I would not want to pay to take them to Paris, nor did I want to take the item downstairs to the trash room (even though that is my backup plan).  I am NOT paying a mover to move things to a Paris studio without storage. 

Often, I look items up on the internet to help with pricing.  I was planning to sell  a Delft vase that I bought at the Delft Factory in Holland for Mama Dorough in 1957.  I gave it to her, and when she died, I got it back in her estate sale.  When I discovered that it is the classic bird vase and is worth approximately $750, I decided to keep it.  Haha.  – unless I change my mind. This is the one for sale on the internet. The second one is mine from my purchase in 1957.

I also have a vase that is worth money (approximately, $200) because it is antique hand-painted flowers made in Italy.  I am keeping that – unless I change my mind.

I am using my good Lenox china and Old Master silver.  I feed Missy cat food on a Lenox gold rim saucer.  Haha.  Why not?  

Finally, a word about Artworks and the Steinway piano (a future post of its own.)  The piano goes!!!!  No comment.  As for the Artworks, Steve and I brought too much from the U.S. It cost a LOT.  I know. My fault. AND, most of it was/is mine, paintings that I have had for many years.

I am finally letting a lot of it go, selling framed paintings and framed photographs.  I am taking a few of my favorites to Paris.  One French young man drove from Cannes with his Designer girlfriend to buy five of my favorites for his rentals and his home. His hobby – sailing. I was planning to take three of them to Paris, but the man wanted them and was excited to get them.  I let them go.  These paintings will have a “new life”.  Hopefully, I will have a “new life”.  AND, best of all, a lot of people will see and enjoy them. That made me excited, too, as I watched him take them to his car.  Below are the paintings he chose, all painted by friends from my past, except for the sail boats – that was Steve’s love.

  Ok, some appropriate memes and a cartoon or two.   

Best, Jay