Writer in the Forest

Chapter 16

Old people save everything. I was an archaeologist, digging through the basement of the former dwelling of Mom and Harry. What did this eclectic pile say about my parents? These were a few of the artifacts of Harry and Adella’s life:

–        14 empty candy boxes

–        23 empty margarine tubs (in case they paint)

–        2 bags of old, dusty beer bottles Mom hid from Harry about 20 years ago

–        A pile of old clothes that filled half the spare bedroom in the basement (including my cousin Sue’s prom dress circa 1963)

–        Two drawers full of old purses from the Johnson, Nixon, Ford, and Carter eras

–        One drawer full of hot water bottles and broken heating pads

–        One drawer full of folded up, used plastic wrap and wads of used string

–        Three and ½ pounds of narcotics hidden in shoes (properly disposed of for free courtesy of the pharmacy that sold them to her)