The Decluttering Process (Or Lack Thereof)

I recently visited my parents in Phoenix to celebrate my dad’s birthday. He just turned 95. My mom is 88. So, as you can imagine, things are moving at a slightly different pace.

We spent a few days having nice meals, visiting with their friends, and helping them get a little more organized. My sister and I were only there for four days, but we decided this would also double as a light decluttering initiative.

That part did not go as planned.

My parents moved into a retirement community about six years ago. They have a one-bedroom, one and a half bath apartment. It is actually perfect. Just enough space, easy to manage, everything they need.

Except.

As the years go on, the stuff continues to grow.

More holiday décor.

More books.

More things.

And now, a surprising amount of front door décor.

Every resident takes their front door very seriously. It is how they show their personality. How they welcome friends. How they say, “This is me.”

Without it, the hall would feel like a hall.

With it, it feels like a neighborhood.

So my sister and I have been trying to help with the decluttering. Because the closets and drawers are full. We gently hold something up and ask, “Do you need this?”

The answer is always, “Oh yes.”

Always.

And then we find out why.

In the closet, we uncovered five holiday wreaths, two three-foot-tall holiday carolers, Easter decor, a St. Patrick’s Day hat, Halloween décor, Valentine’s Day décor, tubs full of party supplies, and enough Hawaiian leis for what appears to be the entire building.

Because you never know.

And yes, there is also Kentucky Derby décor.

Full commitment. Hats and everything.

Which explains a lot.

And also means we are not getting rid of anything.

So we went to Walmart and bought a new shelving unit to help organize the items. Which honestly, helped a ton. We got everything off the floor. Random bags thrown away, and shelves organized by holiday. Mission accomplished. Organized chaos.

And then there’s Jesus.

One thing you will notice as you walk down the hall is that there are many pictures of Jesus on residents’ doors.

But there is one in particular that has become our favorite.

We have named him Bee Gees Jesus.

He looks exactly like Barry Gibb from the band the Bee Gees who had hit after hit in the seventies. Remember “Stayin’ Alive,” “More than A Woman,” and “Jive Talkin?” They were kings of the disco era.

Jesus, got a seventies makeover.

Middle part. Feathered bangs. Slightly dramatic expression.

And a spectacular set of veneers.

I mean, they glisten.

Like, unmistakably.

Like he just walked out of a very successful cosmetic dentistry appointment.

And he is reaching out.

Like he is either inviting you in.

Or inviting you to dance.

To heaven?

We are not entirely sure.

But every time we walk past that door, my sister and I absolutely lose it.

Every single time.

And then, without fail, we break into song.

“How deep is your love…”

And that’s usually where it starts to fall apart, because neither of us knows all the words.

All in all, it was a really fun four days visiting them. We had a lot of laughs. And left the place slightly more organized than when we got there.