The butter melts out of habit, the toast isn’t even warm.

My stepmother’s aunt lives here in Vancouver and was recently put in an ‘old folks home’. I never met the woman. But my stepmom is here in town getting the house ready to sell. This entails packing up and getting rid of this old lady’s things. All her stuff. I basically got to take anything I wanted. Amazing. It was any thrifter’s wet dream. An ENTIRE HOUSE worth of retro furniture, kitchenware, handmade rugs, lamps… everything. It was kinda sad but despite it all I was beside myself greed and at the same time trying to keep respectful composure whilst making the best haul ever.

I got a crocheted rug she made. SUper ugly. Yellow green pink and brown. Hilarious. A pair of matching lamps. Orange ones. With glass bases, big yellow velvet shades and big dangly amber crystaly things hanging all over them. Amazing. A set of gold leaf mod style glasses. Some painted ceramic fruit basket wall hangings. One of those big old cast iron roasting pots. You know, the bright colored enamel ones? With a matching frying pan. So awesome. Plus I spent about an hour digging through a huge box of old buttons, trying to find matching sets. What is it about digging through a pile of old buttons that is so satisfying? I could have easily kept at it for another hour but I didnt want to seem too crazy.

It was a really weird experience seeing this lady’s whole life being packed up into boxes and dispursed to the wind without any input from her. She apparently didnt want to even hear about it. Sad. This is what eventually happens to the sentimental or aesthetically pleasing yet otherwise useless shit that we stockpile throughout our time alive? Just keep it around to touch and look at and enjoy until a time comes when we are close enough to the end that we come to an understanding that there is no need for it anymore? But most of it there really is no need for in the first place except for our own enjoyment and what better time to have it all around you as the time you are coming to terms with death?? Ugh. Old folks homes. Good god.