COLUMN: Stuff means something to somebody

“Actually, this is just a place for my stuff, ya know? That’s all; a little place for my stuff. That’s all I want, that’s all you need in life, is a little place for your stuff, ya know? I can see it on your table, everybody’s got a little place for their stuff. This is my stuff, that’s your stuff, that’ll be his stuff over there

That’s all you need in life, a little place for your stuff. That’s all your house is- a place to keep your stuff. If you didn’t have so much stuff, you wouldn’t need a house. You could just walk around all the time. A house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it. You can see that when you’re taking off in an airplane. You look down, you see everybody’s got a little pile of stuff.”

George Carlin, comedian

I was too young to remember Carlin, arguably in his prime, in the late 1970s. I have watched episodes of “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson with Carlin as a guest and have seen a few of the movies Carlin contributed. But his monologue about stuff is what I remember most. His comments helped get me through moving to a different house which I recently completed.

I admit I save a lot of stuff and have for much of my adult years. During a previous move, I found Christmas gift receipts that were about 10 years old at the time. I keep thinking that someday my kept stuff will have a purpose or value for me later on, but it rarely has. My wife Jennifer is not a keeper. Her strategy is if the item has not been used or has value in the past year, it should go. She reminded me of that for this move.

A box of VHS tapes, things I recorded from various TV networks and shows from the late 1980s through probably mid 1990s, was in the basement. Thanks to the YouTube website, many of those things I recorded can be seen on the site. I didn’t have to keep the VHS tapes. Again, I haven’t had a working VCR in my house in years; so those tapes were never watched.

The same can be said with music CDs and cassettes, also purchased during the same time frames, and longer. Digital music has replaced much of that. Knowing the popularity and interest in music from 30 to 40 years ago, I made some phone calls and found someone in Des Moines who is interested in seeing what I have and is willing to pay. I just have to find some time to get there.

Various articles of clothing were also removed. For years, I have said having a desk job and not enough exercise has changed my figure. Clothes that fit pre-COVID were a bit snug today. Over the years I had a collection of minor league baseball caps. Some of the teams are no longer in existence and the caps should not be worn either. Sweat stains on wool caps is not very appealing, or so I was told. I did keep the caps that were in good condition or have some sentimental value.

When the yard sale for our stuff for a few weeks leading up to the move lost its enthusiasm, the leftover items were taken to the Red Oak United Methodist Church. Since last winter, the church has turned a few rooms in its building and basement into a second-hand store. Contents are mainly leftover yard sale items from people in the area. Christmas decorations, books, kitchen items, clothes are all there. The store is only open Fridays and Saturdays and is free-will offering. Church members organize the inventory and sit at the table for customers to make a donation. Items to be donated are taken on Fridays.

Some of the stories heard from the members working the shop have been surprising, emotional, encouraging, humbling and the list of related adjectives goes on. You may also be surprised at the demographics of people who have shopped and donated. There have been young children who found toys probably 10 years older than they get another chance to be enjoyed. Those items may have made a young kid’s birthday feel better to celebrate.

Formal wear, like what you could wear to a wedding, made some adults feel better about their appearance at the event and not have to break the bank to do so.

Carlin is right. “A house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it. You can see that when you’re taking off in an airplane. You look down, you see everybody’s got a little pile of stuff.”

Even though your stuff might not mean anything to you anymore, it could to someone else.