We are working on getting my wife's stuff out

free photo from photo site
@ElicBxn (63643)
United States
February 15, 2022 5:58pm CST
But wait! I hear you say. Didn't she just die? Yes she did. After Dad died in 1984, Mom was told to go through his stuff and find new places for most of his stuff. His clothes, socks, etc. Mom and I did it. It was hard, but we did it. When Elaine died in 1998, she lived in Houston and I in Austin. Her friend in Houston did some, then got overwhelmed. Viv and I started going down on weekends and we finally got it taken care of. It was hard, but we got it done. Viv didn't even really know her, but I was her friend and she was there for me. When Connie's mom died the following March (1999) Connie was already disabled enough that she couldn't help. Again, Viv and I cleaned out her mother's place... Viv had never had the misfortune of really meeting Connie's mom. It wasn't quite so hard when Mom died since she had already moved out of the 3 bedroom house. She had even moved out of her 1 bedroom apartment in the senior apartments and into half a room in the health care center. It was still hard, but not so much because of the work. When Connie died in 2017 she had most of her stuff gone, but I was still the one who ended up doing it. In her case, most of her stuff was already at my house, but it still took a couple of days to get all her stuff out. However, I'm 5 years older than in 2017, 11 years older than I was in 2010, I'm 22 years older than in 1999 and 23 from 1998 and over 35 years older than when Dad died. And really, this is the first time all the stuff was here - even though Connie's mom had been in the house for 3 days when she passed. So, I'm really glad my sister is here to help. Yesterday we went through most of the food in her "pantry." I put it in quotes because she still had stuff in the "real" pantry, or both of them. One of our friend's said that she'd make a memory quilt if I could find the teeshirts I would like it made from. The roommate also thought that if she would make something like lap quilts for the kids it would be nice... so... I haven't asked yet. Oh, and I've done this on about 3 hours of sleep. Better than the 2 one hour nights that last couple of weeks Viv was in the hospital, the night she coded and then about a week later. The roommate had accidently slammed the 'gate' between the hall and the kitchen and made some kind of exclamation. Both of her parents are older than I am (I'm old enough to be her mother) and neither are in particularly good health. I jumped out of bed to make sure she/they were all right. Despite everything being fine, I couldn't get back to sleep until after 8 a.m. I got up at 10:30 so I would be dressed and ready for my sister. We had worked about 6 hours on Monday and 4 hours today. Honestly, I'm not sure where all I'm going to be putting the trash and recycling we are generating... it's a lot! Have you ever lost anyone? Have you been the one who had to clean up/out their stuff? How did you do? Did you have anyone to help you?
8 people like this
6 responses
@LadyDuck (472081)
• Switzerland
16 Feb 22
Yes, I lost my Mom 4 years ago, she lived in Milan (Italy) one hour from where we live. We went there two days a week with my husband to go through her things in her apartment. It took 6 months before we finished. My husband helped me.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
17 Feb 22
I'm not the person that copes well to begin with... I hope we get this done soon... but she had a lot of stuff. There is even a shed out back that is mostly her stuff... sigh... oh, boxes, there are BOXES!!!
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
17 Feb 22
@LadyDuck she has a brother who is estranged from the family. I did ask a mutual friend of his and mine if she would inform him. She said she doubted he'd care. I told her that it really didn't matter if he cared or not, but just that he should know. She agreed with that.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472081)
• Switzerland
17 Feb 22
@ElicBxn - I had to separate stuff, because I have a brother and I had to ask him what to do before taking decisions. He worked and he was only available on Sundays and not all Sundays (he is a doctor).
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (90474)
• Arvada, Colorado
16 Feb 22
Yes I took most of my Mother's belongings RIP None of this is ever easy I understand..take care dear heart xo
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@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
17 Feb 22
I have some stuff of Mom's. My favorite is the photo she took in Kenya.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
17 Feb 22
@RebeccasFarm yeah, and you know what a giraffe fan I am...
1 person likes this
• Arvada, Colorado
17 Feb 22
@ElicBxn Now there is some photo!!! Thanks El xo
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (71762)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Feb 22
I've lost a lot of people, and no. I never had to make those choices. When my husband goes (if) he goes before me, then I'll have to deal with all of that. But, I'm hoping he's going to live a nice, long life. He's looking on retiring at the end of the year. And, so far, is in fairly good health.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
17 Feb 22
@kaylachan - We had been roommates since December 1999, I've known her since 1984 and we got married in 2016. We did it to protect her from her family. I did let her mother visit. I am not cruel enough to deny her a final chance to visit her daughter.
@yoalldudes (35037)
• Philippines
16 Feb 22
I am happy he is in in good health. Is he of retiring age or will it be an early retirement?
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108166)
• Marion, Ohio
16 Feb 22
I have done it 3 times for my hubbies parents and mine. It is never easy but has to be done
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
17 Feb 22
But you do expect to lose your parents, too soon, but lose them...
1 person likes this
@yoalldudes (35037)
• Philippines
16 Feb 22
I was just 12 when my father was stabbed. My mother did it with the help of a friend. This is one of the reason I am doing Swedish minimalist cleaning. So I wont burden those I left.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
17 Feb 22
Yikes! Stabbed! Viv, my wife, had a friend in the Netherlands who was shot by her husband. She learned about it because another online friend saw it in the news. I had a co-worker who's son had come over, mowed her yard, went to his girl friend to see their baby and gave her money. Then he was trimming his mom's hedge when someone came up and shot him, right in her front yard! She still lived in the house, not sure I could've...
@yoalldudes (35037)
• Philippines
19 Feb 22
@ElicBxn I read somewhere that the statistics show most women's homicide happen inside the house by partners and such.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
16 Feb 22
It is a difficult task. I have done it many times. When I lost my son, I had a quilt made from his t-shirts and I treasure it every day. Glad you have help. I usually did it alone.
1 person likes this
@yoalldudes (35037)
• Philippines
16 Feb 22
You are such a strong woman. In my mind I hope I go first before my daughter. We dont know what life brings so I thank God when she is safe and well. That quilting you did is the best idea to keep a memento of him.
2 people like this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
16 Feb 22
@yoalldudes How kind of you to say. I never look at myself as strong. I just do what I have to do. Somehow I am still standing. Parents should NEVER outlive their children. I adore the quilt.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
17 Feb 22
@yoalldudes Thanks... since my wife was 7 years younger than me I had kinda hoped she'd be the one doing this... And the quilt was the friend's idea. Oh, and when I told her what the roommate had suggested, she thought it was a great idea... maybe even one for her...
1 person likes this