Barbara J. Hamby

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Save Me From My Stuff

My head wants to toss things out doors and windows--get rid of superfluous stuff. My hands pick up books, office supplies, etc. etc. and shuffle them from one spot to another. Does anyone really need several hundred pencils or a dozen rulers or typewriter erasers?

The excellent electric typewriter I never use was moved off the bookcase today to make room for books. It should have gone to Goodwill. Instead it has another temporary home. The old typewriter was my first printer. Slowly and noisily it would print on tractor paper from one of my early computers. Can’t remember if it was the Commodore or an Apple II. I remember working in the yard one evening while it was grinding away inside and I could hear it 20 or 30 feet from the open window.

I also shuffled a lot of papers around my office today. There are enough unfinished writing projects, editing jobs, and unused ideas to last me at least another twenty-five years. I guess I’ll go out with my fingers on the keyboard, if they’ll still bend.

Instead of playing Scrabble in the evenings on our recent trip, I probably should have been writing. That’s why I dragged my laptop along. However, next week I go to Seattle to spend time with my three younger sisters and there will be some Scrabble games I’m sure. The practice won’t hurt, but it may not help either. We’ll see.