2025 OneThing #41 - Move Lou's Stuff to Pool Table

I'm calling this a success even though there's lots more to be done! My 95-year-old father-in-law recently moved to a care facility. His wife has a tendency to throw everything away without even knowing what it is. I helped her remove all of Lou's stuff and that man LOVES his paperwork! Initially, I put it in the living room, thinking it would be a good place to sort and organize. Having my grandsons over the past weekend meant I needed to clear it out.

I took before pics and laugh to think that my f-i-l wants me to bring his papers to him! (I am bringing him a few file folders at a time. His room is 400 square feet and already has six pieces of furniture in it . . . 

Technically, the four bins / boxes in the back of this last photo are still here from two years ago when my sister-in-law emptied her Maple Grove house. They are mostly photographs, cards, etc. I have a lot of sorting to do!

I don't mind doing this too much, but having dealt with the packrat tendencies of my own parents and siblings, I'm becoming more of a "toss it out" person. My personal focus is: buy less, donate or recycle, make do with what you have. I'm a work in progress!

I wish I had better "after" pictures, but my grandsons kept me busy AND we still have camping stuff out from my August 26 trip up to the North Shore with my sister. Life has been quite full lately!

To be fair, I have plenty of my own papers which I moved to one end of the pool table before bringing Lou's stuff down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So I have my living room "back" mostly. The stuff on the wingback chair is ready to go to his home. The stuff in the laundry basket is being prepped to go. These are the little odds and ends I'm close to getting rid of.

 

 

And here's what I'm facing downstairs in my office space. Wish me luck! Or better yet, come over and help me sort. :-)

2025 OneThing #23 - Spend time with Lou

I set this as my goal because I knew I wouldn't have many opportunities to see him in the weeks ahead. I haven't talked with Joyce much over the last month . . . for a variety of reasons. But I called her and offered to come over to spend time with Lou so she could go and do whatever she wants. I offered to come either Friday or Saturday afternoon and she said Friday (9 May 2025).

When I got there, Lou was eating his lunch and Joyce went on an errand. I read my book for a bit so that Lou could focus on eating. (He's generally too polite to eat when company comes, so I told him to go ahead and finish and I would read my book.)

When he was done, I helped with clearing his dishes and we chatted a bit. I had brought my Cursillo song book, so we sang together. It was clear he didn't remember the words and was having trouble reading them in the book, but he belted out the chorus. (Why can't I remember which song it was right now?)

I don't remember what we were talking about, but he said he's "too busy" to deal with something. I asked him what he's busy with and he gave me his same story about projects he's working on. (For the past decade plus, it has been sleep apnea machine, VA benefits, insurance, rent, etc.) He's always working on a deal!

It was really nice to spend time with him. When Joyce got home, she did a bit of her yelling at him routine. Although it makes me sad / mad, I just bit my tongue. I need to go over more often to listen and talk and give her "away" time. My hair looks weird in the picture because it was hot out and I had it in a ponytail.