Shredding

We're doing a lot of shredding and shedding these days. Shredding old files, old tax returns, old bank statements, and junking a lot of old vacation pamphlets, maps, tour books, etc.

Why now? The tropical storms and heavy rains of late summer sent us to the basement to check for water. We were lucky to have only a minor incident down there. But it got us thinking that if we ever had a real water problem what would we need to save.

The answer was: nothing. So why is all that paper cluttering up the filing cabinet and storage boxes down there. Inertia, indifference, indolence or just plain disinterest. Maybe I thought that stuff would make good material for a book, a memoir or even fiction. Not a chance.

So little by little we are carting the papers to the shredder in my office and filling sacks with the remnants. I get to choose which papers must go (all of them) and which should stay (none). She gets to shred and I get to clean out the shredder to get it ready for the next batch.

It is a cleansing experience.