One of the very hardest categories of things to get rid of is things with sentimental value. This jewelry box is one of those things. This jewelry box - so very 70s, with its orange-gold lined drawers and fancy little knobs - is one of the few things I have left from my own childhood. But I have a much nicer, larger red chest (thanks, Mom), more useful and more beautiful. (Remember the Minimalists: is it useful? does it give joy?) The 70s jewelry box has been sitting on top of the red chest, gradually becoming emptier. Each time I wear a piece of jewelry, I put it away in the nicer chest, so that today, when I emptied the old jewelry box, there was not one thing in it of value. Now that it's gone, the room looks just a little less cluttered. A little more lovely.
A funny story about this old jewelry box. About eight years ago, I found the words "Sam sucks!" scratched into the veneer, apparently with a sewing pin. I ask you: would a smart girl like Emma go into her mother's room with a pin and scratch fighting words onto her mother's sentimental childhood object? Another question: would a mischievous boy like Sam who enjoys flying below the radar screen - one who doesn't mind seeing his sister get in trouble - be clever enough to set her up?
That's when I realized that Sam plays a deep game.
Indeed!
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