Being around certain people can make your spirit soar. An elder named Fred does that for me. He radiates positivity. When I helped him declutter his home, however, I made his spirit sore – Ouch! – when I attempted to get rid of things.
“Hey kid,” he grumbled, “Do you know these shoes are very expensive?”
“Uncle Freddy!” I said. “Those shoes are two sizes too small for you.”
Although he is not my real uncle, Uncle Freddy is a gem. Fred shared stories about when he was an aircraft mechanic during the war.
“My planes always checked out! You had to know what you were doing. We were a team. Our guys’ lives were at stake!”
Fred lives in a beautiful three-bedroom, two-bath ranch-style home. He has a garage, a shed, and a semi-studio apartment behind the house. Each space required a declutter, purge, edit, and a special touch from She. Decorating!
He told me about when he was in the hospital and one of his pilots brought him a bottle of whiskey.
All day, conversations ebbed and flowed–on his Air Force duty, postal service assignments, packs, sacks, and cleaning supplies. Despite the volume of excess, Fred gave me clearance to get to work. He committed to restoring order and making changes.
“I use this area like a garage.” This was Fred’s dining area! The room is right next to the side entrance of the house. It became the catch-all for mail, bags, cleaning supplies, lawn tools, you name it. All things garage.
In his life, Uncle Fred has spent many years as a caregiver. Walmart, the nursing home, and the doctors’ office all know him as the Banana Man.
“I love to give!” he chuckled. “Donating bananas is a pretty cheap and healthy way to care for a bunch of people.”
We finally did it. It took over a week to complete and the results were simply remarkable! Our hard work paid off.
A local nonprofit picked up 15 boxes for donations. Nine bags of clothes (some brand new) were dropped off at a shelter for men and a special pick-up of 20 bags of trash was scheduled. Lastly, two carefully packed boxes of rare China and heirlooms were earmarked for shipment to family members.
Uncle Fred was extremely impressed with my work. “You really impressed me with that garage!! Yeah kid, that was really something along with my memorabilia wall. You’re good! I mean really good, Sheila.”
When it was time to say Goodbye, he sat and waved at his neighbors and cars passing by. Since owning his home, this was the very first time he has ever occupied this view. His happiness made me happy. Thank YOU, uncle Freddy! You made my day! He has fought and won so many victories, at 87 years old, he deserves a beautiful, decluttered home.
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Sheila A.O. is the owner of She Orders, Organized Space, and Customized Meals with love. Sheila, uses humor, education, and inspiration to create an environment of love Sheila (nickname “She”) resides in Zebulon, NC.
For organizing and custom meals, visit www.SheOrders.com Facebook @SheOrderswithLove