On the Other Hand

Goals less daunting for 2009

Published:  Monday, January 5, 2009 (1 year, 2 months ago)
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 by N. Spencer

nspencer@delphosherald.com

I talked last week about how I was abstaining from making a New Year’s resolution because they are so hard to keep and everyone seems way too interested in other people’s resolutions, making it even harder.
I do however, have some goals for myself for the next year.
I have several rooms in the upstairs of my home that need cleaned out. It seems like this just happened a few short years ago but as I think back, I’m sure it’s more like five or six at least.
I get in a hurry and take things up there for storage, always intending to return and find them a home. Well, you know how that goes and what road is paved with good intentions.
The upstairs used to be the bedrooms of my sister and myself. She had the larger of the two, of course, because she was older. Who makes up these rules anyway? I had way more stuff and was just enough younger that I still spread things out to play.
The bedrooms are not for those who suffer from claustrophobia or who are taller than 5’8” as the ceilings are only about 5’10” tall and the walls slope with the eaves of the peak of the house. This was not a problem for any in my family — we are all short. Some more so than others; I won’t name names.
Anyway, over the years, the spaces have become catch-alls for just about everything you can imagine. Boxes for collectibles, seasonal clothing, extra sheets, books, VHS tapes, etc., etc., etc.
The thrust of this project is, of course, to find more room for the things we have accumulated that don’t fit downstairs any more. A vicious cycle.
I hope I have learned from the experience of renovating my in-laws’ home this past summer and fall. I hope I can stick to the mantra we found ourselves telling my mother-in-law: “If you haven’t used it in a year, you probably won’t.” Or my personal favorite: “No one needs three of these.”
My second goal for 2009 is to turn the “Paneling Palace,” the nickname for our home lovingly spoken by my husband, into something less of a “Paneling Palace.”
The marvels of science have now provided us with primer for paneling so it can be painted and kits to fill in the cracks to make the wall look like it is drywalled. Since the entire home is paneled save for three rooms, I have my work cut out for me.
Hah! Famous last words.

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