Wednesday, July 8, 2015

STUFF



STUFF


Ida, my grandmother, was a generous woman.  She was more than willing to share everything she owned. There were many times when she would literally try to give us the shirt off her back.  If we told her we liked her blouse, she offered to take it off and give it to us right then and there.   We would have to explain that her blouse was beautiful for her and she should keep it.  Her blouse was meant for a woman who is 69, not someone who is 20.  It became difficult to compliment her because she could no longer make that distinction.  And now, 40 years later, I have become my grandmother.


When someone says to me, “I like your shirt or I like your hat,” I interpreted to mean that you covet my things and want them.  I no longer want most of my things so I see this as a win/win opportunity for both of us.  You get a new blouse and I get to pawn my stuff off on you: my abundance of things that now owns me and holds me down like a shackle on my soul.

No comments: