Comments on: Organized Hoarding

By: Luisa

Luisa — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 07:48:14 +0000

Chris…thank you for sharing your memories, photos, and advice. I know exactly what you mean about the handwriting of loved ones no longer with us. I have so many documents my dad has written on and signed, and when I come across them I think of him and wish he were still here. Your wife will always be watching over you and your children. Wishing you all the best! PS I still miss you on WNBC

By: AnnMarie Gavard

AnnMarie Gavard — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:13:54 +0000

Chris thank you for sharing your memories and part of your life stories. Always remember even though your wife is no longer here physically she is with you in spirit.
God Bless You.

By: Pat Gerrity

Pat Gerrity — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 19:40:58 +0000

Your advice is right on! We moved from our house in Queens 2 years ago. We lived there for 34 years, raised our 4 kids and packed every inch of the house with stuff. All those participation trophies, art projects, sports equipment., my son’s law school books, my nursing school books, you get the idea. Truly life sucking. It took weeks and weeks and still on the last day I had a mountain of stuff out front for the New York Sanitation guys.
It was very emotional and very hard but as you noted we were leaving on our terms. We filled a small pod and took very little. Mostly photos and clothes. I will never collect that much shit again. Thanks for the cry. Good luck on your future endeavors.

By: Mary

Mary — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 12:15:26 +0000

Thanks once again, Chris, for sharing….. would love to see your memories in print one day, to add another book to my very favorites…. there are a chosen few of those!

By: April

April — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 11:40:24 +0000

So many shared experiences, Chris. I went through this process 18 months ago but started it a year before selling. I sat on my basement floor, cracking open lucite containers filled with camp letters from my kids, hundreds of Mothers Day cards. I knew I wasn’t going to take them with me and wasn’t going to take pictures to archive I gave them all a silent goodbye, and put them in the garbage. Wow, I felt as if I was saying goodbye to a life. Draining. Right now, I can say, it was the right decision. For so many reasons, mostly financial. Hang in there. As you said, it’s a process.
On another note, I just had to say that a friend of mine from Elementary School met Marty Balin late in life AND they fell in love and married. Tragedy struck when he died after suffering complications from surgery. It’s a story!

By: Dolores

Dolores — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 04:16:52 +0000

Chris, I totally understand the purge as you go advice. We lived in our home for 29 years, when I decided we needed to downsize. Since the decision was mine, I found it easy to get rid of things. Lots and lots of things. I gave my children their things (memorabilia that I saved for each of them), and tried to give them things that I thought they’d like to have, (which of course, they didn’t want). BUT - I still have tubs full of cards I saved, tubs full of photos, and children’s books that I can’t part with. One day, I will. Now in my smaller house, I am getting better and better about not buying things just to have them, and I try not to place so much sentimental value on other things. It’s not easy, and it will be a slow process, but I’m working on it. You will too!

By: Janice Cannataro

Janice Cannataro — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 02:18:26 +0000

During the pandemic, my daughter who still is home helped me “purge” and donate so much. But 5 kids, 9 grandkids later, needless to say I saved every card, note, report cards, things from the hospital from all 5… plus much more. It was emotional looking back. I don’t even like looking at old pictures. How is my son 50 this year?( I must have been 10 when I had him!) I can’t even imagine if and when we move. I’m trying to recognize what I don’t need to save… it’s hard now so I can only imagine if we move. Thank you for sharing your personal thoughts. I feel like you are family after watching you for many years(and John Marshall) who has been special to my family. Good luck, happiness and health to you. LOVE your blogs!!!

By: Joanne Glassoff

Joanne Glassoff — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 00:31:09 +0000

Wow…we were forced to downsize 5 years ago. Yes. .. PURGE, PURGE, PURGE! The memories are amazing. New chapter!

By: Oscar

Oscar — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 23:56:41 +0000

Chris:
Thanks for sharing these highly personal thoughts with us.