Cleaning House

It's infectious. The paper sorting I started yesterday kicked off a whole room sort today that bled over to my office. I plowed through closets, drawers, boxes of stuff, suitcases - all the little squirrel holes where I end up stuffing things to look at later when I have more time to consider what to do with them.

Lately I want simplicity. Why have three different types of baking pans when one will do? Why keep an extra two sets of measuring cups? I don't need them. I guess I have finally figured out that the more stuff I have, the more time I get to spend keeping it all in line. Not for me. I am weeding out.

I am at my worst when it comes to music, both printed and recorded. I own way too many scores and CD's and I justify it by telling myself that as a conductor, I might need those unsung scores and unlistened to CDs someday. And maybe I will. But isn't that what libraries are for? To keep collections of things in case someone needs them?

When I am in this sort of mood, I encourage myself to go through things with a savage relinquish agenda. I weed everything that I know perfectly well in my heart of heart that I will never use. Then I go back through and become even more strident. Not a favorite composer? Ditch it. Not a text you are enamored of? Let it go. Too bland a melody (even Bach has some of those!)? It goes.

What ever I keep has to be the most moving, striking, wonderful music. Otherwise, forget it. And if I can have it digitally, I ditch the paper or physical version. My ultimate goal? When I am old and ready to leave this world, my children will not have to be burdened with anything other than a suitcase of clothes to take to Sal's and a few thumbdrives of stuff nobody cares about but me.

Today I make a dent in my pile of stuff. It is a good dent. I have a long ways to go. Now if I can just manage to resist buying more, I will be golden.