Back In My

The late comedian George Carlin, often incorporated the topic of “stuff” into one of his oft quoted monologues.

I, myself, have often used the phrase, “They are only ‘things.’”

And, yes, we were both right, but maybe not completely accurate.

When I relocated, I brought dozens of boxes with me. Someone else (a good samaritan) helped me unpack, and several of the boxes were put into not quite storage, but on shelves far too high for me to access.

I then believed nothing really important was in any of those boxes. At least that’s what was decided at that precise moment in time..

Now I have lived here close to two years, and while I am quite comfortable, I still felt a vague discontent. It was a nebulous emotion, hard to describe; but I constantly sensed something was missing.

Surging the internet several weeks ago, I chanced upon the website for one of my favorite stores. Instantly, I remembered driving out east on the LIE to Riverhead usually accompanied by one of my friends ( either Alice or Jane) for a day’s shopping at the famed utopia for shoppers, Tanger Outlet..

After parking , we would separate, visit our favorite shops and then regroup for lunch.

Now I suddenly remembered the shelves I had left in Massapequa. They were treasures I had purchased on one of our shopping adventures, and left behind when I moved away. I wondered why.

Quickly I typed the word shelf in the site’s search box. Voila, my forgotten shelves appeared, and within minutes I had ordered them.

This week they arrived. The next morning, Michael, our amazing maintenance Manager, installed them, and also retrieved from the upper shelf a few of my “Things” or “Stuff,” as George Carlin once termed them.

At last, all my forgotten treasures now nestle comfortably in their new home.

I know the humorous description of “Stuff” that we once laughed about was almost accurate, but I must disagree just a tad.

I admit, my pewter and tiles do fall into the laughable category of “things,” and also, Mr. Carlin’s “stuff.” Just possibly, however, there is also another phrase that best describes the tall candlesticks and azure blue squares.

I think the category of “Doorways to memory” might also be applicable.

I am not quite certain why, but I just know that my comfort zone is visibly enlarged whenever I gaze at them. And I’m glad they’re back.