Stuff

     I couldn’t believe how closely a PT Cruiser was following a minivan on my commute to work, it was almost on the bumper!  Not until I got closer did I realize the Cruiser was being towed by the van.  Both vehicles were jam packed with boxes, bags, clothing and who knows what else.  I didn’t think anything of it until, as I continued on, I passed not just one but five cars being towed by old, beat up minivans.  Each car and van was filled to the top with stuff.  Strange, was that each van had a driver and no passengers; and the driver was wearing a white earpiece making it appear that the drivers were wired to talk to one another.  Stranger still was fact that the vehicles all had white papers with black sharpie lettering taped to the back of them (like temporary tags) instead of actual registered license plates.  It was odd. 

     Of course I found myself wondering where they were going and why were there only men and no women or children, and why the earpiece?  Ok, maybe I can totally understand the earpieces’ having been a part of a few road trips, that because it was back in the day of no cell phones or GPS’ - if the driver of car 1 had to tell the driver of car 2 something, they were forced to speed up and come directly beside driver of car 2.  Making sure that they maintained proper distance between vehicles, exact speed as car 2 and get past the smiles, laughs and “hey isn’t this great thumbs up” until driver of car 1 realizes you want to tell them something and aren’t just saying “hi”.  Then the game of car charades begins until you’re sure whatever it was you were trying to say was understood or if you weren’t able to get your point across; you had to speed past, pull in front of them and put your turn signal on to let them know they’d better follow because you have something really important to tell them.  It’s amazing how technology has eliminated so many “issues” and yet recalling some of those issues brings a smile because they were so ridiculous.

     Sorry - back to the packed vehicles. 

     Wondering what may be happening, I came up with a few scenarios.  Some of which are so ridiculous I won’t even share; but all scenarios began with, “They packed everything important to them and started to drive.”  It was then that I asked myself, “If I had to grab my most treasured things, what would they be?”  Of course, “My people,” – my family would be the only things I really need; but giving this question real thought, I realized the little value any “thing” really has.

     I enjoy my stuff; and I will be the first to admit I have far too much.  Too many bowls in my kitchen cabinets and yet I gravitate to them in stores.  I read a lot, so I have shelves of books and I won’t tell you how many pairs of shoes I own – I do however have to point out that I’ve been a size 8 ½ - 9 since high school and I’m going to be 50 in a couple of years- so that’s a lot of time to accumulate – just sayin’. 

     I probably put too much time into thinking about it as, except for the necessities like clothing and my eyeglasses so I can see, there wasn’t much I would say I really need.  I love pictures and have many of them.  I would be heartbroken if somehow they were gone; but I have the memories, so even those aren’t needed. 

     It’s a strange feeling realizing that typically “things” are the way the world judges our worth, things can be the reason for too much stress, and those same things can be taken in an instant by some tragedy; and if that’s the case, it could really be that the only thing left is Me; and this thought caused me to wonder….if all my things were gone, all the things that “define” me, am I enough?