The Weight of Past Memories

We have recently completed a move that has been in the works for over a year. We have boxes upon boxes that I meticulously wrapped and taped. Now I have to unpack and unwrap all the precious contents and figure out where in the holy heck I'm going to put everything.

Shockingly, this house is not arranged at all like the last one, and I don't know where to put stuff. My family has informed me that my previous design aesthetic has been "eclectic clutter." They aren't looking forward to having all that stuff out again, but to me it represents memories.

Reflecting on memories through Alzheimer's

I am a visual person, I have realized. When I see my mementos, it brings up the memories they hold. Now I am remembering for two.

Mom doesn't remember all the places she has visited, and those memories she does have are fading. I love the delight she has when I unwrap some figurine and present it to her. Awww! A memory is sparked and she is like a kid on Christmas morning.

Making space

The movers gave us an estimate, and it was based on 20,000 pounds. Good grief! That is a lot of very heavy memories! I feel that weight as I go through all of those "treasures" that I didn't think I could do without nine months ago.

What do I keep? What do I let go of?

The weight of memories and Alzheimer's

There are porcelain figurines that my parents bought in Germany, Italy, and Spain when my dad was stationed in Bremerhaven and Nürnberg, Germany. I don't collect Hummel figurines, but there is the one with the telescope that was for my dad, who was always into astronomy.

He died in 2012 after his battle with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, and a few other things. I don't want to remember him by his diseases, I would rather remember him by a cute little German boy gazing at the stars through his telescope.

My own memories

I have my own memories that I would like to keep. I have souvenirs from Germany and from the years my husband and I traveled and lived in Russia. I wanted to bring a piece of all that I loved and all the people I met who meant so much to me home in my suitcase. Now they are in boxes, all the gifts and mementos. I wonder how long my memories will last.

But I live in the here and now. I shouldn't sacrifice the present and the comfort of my family for shelves full of knick-knacks that represent the past family history, yes. But I need to figure out a limit. That's really hard for me right now when I feel such a sense of loss.

I know people aren't stuff, and the stuff isn't them, but how do I choose? Once I figure it out, I'm going to have the mother of all garage sales. I'm open to suggestions! Let me know how you manage the weight of memories and Alzheimer's, or share your story with the community.