A Mother and Daughter Adventure Series

Jane: Minimalism is all the rage right now and I get it. We have lived in our house for 38 years and maximizing has been the theme for most of that time: how do we fit in more stuff and what shall we buy next? But now, we are weary of taking care of things and actually celebrate when something breaks beyond repair. “Oh, look, at the crack in this dish, Honey—we can throw it out!” I have designated February, 2023, as my “Minimalizing Month” which is appropriate because it is the smallest month in the year.

For years, I volunteered at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store on Eleanor Street in Kalamazoo. It was a good place to learn about what will sell, where to donate things that won’t sell, and what is unsalvageable junk. As a rule of thumb, if I would not pay money for something in its current condition, then no one else will, either, so I don’t give it to a resale shop. If it’s still good, I donate it, but if it’s broken, I throw it away. What a waste!” you are saying? Here’s the thing: just because I am still using the chair with the wobbly leg and wearing the skirt with the broken zipper, that doesn’t mean someone else wants to use it. However, all junk does not go in my herby-curby.

Where do I throw things out, then? All worn out clothing that is natural material like cotton, wool, linen, etc, can be recycled. I can give that to Goodwill (they are great at recycling) or any thrift store that bails textiles, by labeling the bag as “rags”. Almost all shoes can be recycled, as well (I bag them separately from the clothes). Broken furniture, appliances, and anything made of metal can be placed on the curb for the city trash pick-up day. If I put it out on a day that is sunny, chances are that neighbors who recycle/reuse things will take it away before the city does. Old oil paint, chemicals, hazardous waste, etc. are delivered to Hazardous Waste (go to Kalcounty.com/hhw.)

It’s amazing how lighter my spirits feel when I let go of the broken things in my house.

Ellen: The hardest things for me to downsize are books. My constantly growing library has overwhelmed three bookshelves and two bedside tables. The books end up following me around the house, perching on dressers and couch corners, some with bookmarks and some without.

Once a year, I make an effort to sit down and figure out which books will live better lives in new houses with other readers. Some are easy: the books I really didn’t like or couldn’t finish. Some are tricky: I didn’t really like the book but it’s part of a series, and of course I want the whole collection. Some are untouchable: books I will read repeatedly for the rest of my life. I won’t even lend these ones out to friends.

Just this level of sorting takes me a long time because, inevitably, I come across a book I haven’t seen for a while and I’ll flip it open and suddenly it’s 8 pm and I am late to make dinner.

Once I have successfully enticed the group of unwanted books into a bag, I need to steal my nerves and make sure to take them to the donation place quickly. If I look at the covers or flip through them one more time, they will launch an appeal and I can’t have that. Let’s face it, there are very few TERRIBLE books, they all have their moments, but it is better for them to reach a new reader to thrill and surprise. I pat myself on the back once the transfer of the books has been made to libraries or thrift stores. I’ve done it! But here comes the hardest part: not stopping at the bookstore on the way home, because I have more room now, right? Surely just looking at the new releases wouldn’t be a problem…

I may have to face the fact that I am a book maximalist.

Ellen Radke & Jane Knuth

For book recommendations from your Kalamazoo Public Library Staff go to www.kpl.gov/blog/