Baby with the bath water -- By Ann Parker

... If only it were as easy to find tips for dealing with ideas that are dusty or "don't work" as it is to find tips on getting rid of stuff. For instance, here are tips via Consumers Reports for getting rid of "practically anything." But I don't see mention of how to get rid of toss-worthy ideas.

But then, I'm not one to throw ANYthing out. I love "old stuff," which means I sort, store, and squirrel away things like old family photos (several generations back), old letters (my dad's letters to my mother, while he was in Japan after WWII), old books, old toys, old recipe boxes, old buttons, old clothes, VHS tapes, audio tapes, floppy disks, 45- , 33-, 78-rpm records, tablecloths, coffee cups, notecards,  postcards, pencils, pens ARGH ARGH ARGH STOP STOP STOP!! The list could go on at great length, trust me.

I have horrifying visions of living in a house where one must wend one's way through stacks and stacks of stuff. I have horrifying visions of my mind being the mental equivalent.

But I can't let go. I know I'm not the only person with this particular problem, what I think of the "don't throw the baby out with the bath water" syndrome. I'm sure part of it comes down to: What if the idea/thing I throw away, which looks so useless right now, turns out to be REALLY GOOD later on? The spark for something magnificent? The hidden treasure? The antique roadshow find-of-the-year? That's the fear, or the hope, that keeps me "holding on."

While browsing around YouTube, I came across this very very short video (probably a student effort) that does a nice job of summing up that hope for discarded ideas, all in just about 30 seconds. Take a looksee and let me know what you think...

Comments

[camille minichino]

Great video (I had to play it full screen to see what happens at the end). Now I can imagine that you'll never crumple a piece of paper again!

Those floppies, though? I doubt they'll bloom again!

[Ann]

I know. What on earth do I do with those floppy disks? I can't bear to throw them away, but I'm not even sure what's on them anymore... Much less if the programs still exist to open the files! :-(

[Susan Shea]

You must have a very large house. Living in a small space makes the decisions to discard easier: Exactly where would I put this banker box full of 80s dance music tapes?

[Staci]

I have a horrible time throwing things away as well, Ann, although it's easier when I don't have a way to use the items. I've thrown out all my VHS tapes now that I no longer have a VCR. Same with the cassette tapes. I only miss them a little.

[Ann]

Hi Susan! Yes, we have a two-story suburban monster. I remember how "open" it looked when we first moved in. 18 years with four people and, well, packrats, all of us. It is not a pretty sight, particularly in the garage and in the closets!
I salute you living in a small space and making it work. Watching my mother go from "big house" to "large-ish apartment" to "small-ish aparment" to "assisted-living studio-type-room" and finally "nursing care" (with two shelves for keepsakes) was sobering and sad. I sure don't want to put my family through that whole process of whittling down and making guesses what goes and what stays. Guess I'd better get busy these next couple of decades!

[Ann]

Hi Staci! Unfortunately, we held on to both cassette tape player(s) and a VCR. Maybe it's time to say sayonara. Only there are some family videotapes from "way back when." I should get them converted (along with super8 film from my "original family"... at least, I think it's super8. Not entirely sure, but on little reels...)

[Priscilla]

I am grateful to my mother who never threw anything away. If she had, I wouldn't have some "fine stitchery" made by my aunt in the early 20th century or that photo album made by my great-grandfather, the bookbinder, in 1863. I

[Michael A. Black]

Neat little video. Take a look at the crumpled up piece of paper. At one point, before it morphs, there's a face on it.