It’s Just Stuff
Dear Frankie,
My parents are selling our house and moving to a much smaller condo in Florida. My mom texted my siblings with a list of things they would not be moving to Florida and asked they let her know what they wanted.
Most of the stuff nobody wanted, and some of the stuff they all wanted. She can’t believe no one wanted some of the items passed down by the family, like the cuckoo clock and grandma’s sewing machine table. Now, she doesn’t know how to handle who gets the stuff they all want.
My dad offered a few suggestions, and she accused him of favoring Joseph, the only boy in the family. They haven’t been talking since. The siblings have also been calling and threatening my mom by saying if they don’t get an item grandma said was theirs before she died, don’t plan on them for Christmas.
My mom is a wreck. It’s only stuff. Why is stuff such a big deal for humans? On a personal note, I’m thrilled they are leaving my doghouse.
Felix
Dear Felix,
Stuff is an addiction for some humans. Just look at the amount of credit card debt and the amount of stuff you see in the dumps, in recycling plants, floating a mile long in the ocean, and the thrift stores filled with a gazillion tee shirts, furniture, and household items.
For other humans, stuff represents status, indicated by the desired logo on their handbag, shirt, or luggage.
Some humans cherish stuff because it belongs to someone special to them.
I’m sure there are many more reasons why the humans want and don’t want all kinds of stuff. Suggest to your mom that your siblings draw a number, and the person who draws the number one gets to pick first, number two draws second, etc., until everything is gone, and call it a day.
Good news on the dog house.
Best, Frankie
© 2025 Geneva Woodruff
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