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The Past and The
Present
By
Reno Litterio |
Sooner and not
later, we must throw away some of our past that has
accumulated over the years of living. The volume of
newsprint, charitable solicitations, special supplements to
Sunday newspapers, posters, old calendars that have museum
reproduction, pens, pencils and postcards. These are a few
items that are sitting every way. The children have flown
the nest, leaving school papers, clothes, games, ten speed
bicycles, sports equipment, you name it and you can find it
here.
One important piece of equipment is a shredder, buy yourself
a good one, you’ll be using it for hours and then some. Any
item that has personal information is going straight to the
JAWS, that’s what they have named my shredder. Shred
magazine labels, canceled checks, donation requests, which
never stop arriving in the mail, old tax returns that you
never found the time to throw out. Make sure you keep tax
papers at least three years back. The IRS may, out of the
blue, decide to audit some of your back returns. Don’t
panic, just follow their instructions and have your papers
together for the year they request.
After running your shredder for a few hours, just think of
the long strips of papers you have and the things you can do
with them. Paper is used for warmth and used to winterize
bulbs under soil. You can also fill a pillow case and have a
new experience sleeping on yesterday’s news. How about a pad
for your pets? They will sleep on it and love it.
On the spur of the moment I just opened the left hand upper
draw of my desk. The first thing I recognized is a new pair
of Kiwi 33” shoe laces. Then my eye caught a 1997 First
Night Quincy button, 2” x 3” with beautiful illustrated art,
a plastic box of safety pins, Swingline staple gun refills,
picture frame hanging wire, typing correction white tape
which was useful before computers came along, a maroon gift
box with a gold pocket knife, which someone gave me and a
small, yellow box of Kodalux slides from a trip I don’t
remember. How can I just throw these articles in the waste
basket?
When the California fires struck, residents were told to
evacuate their homes and had 15 minutes to gather all their
cherished possessions. Can you honestly say that you know
exactly where these items are? You should buy a fireproof
strong box and put it in a place with easy access. You can
also make use of your bank safety deposit box. These
procedures need to be planned ahead.
How big is your wallet? I am not referring to your money.
Can you say that you know and remember every item you carry?
Take the time to photo copy each item and at the same time
clean out unnecessary cards and papers.
One other note, if your travel destination requires the use
of your passport, you definitely need to photo copy your
passport which should be carried in a separate place. If
your passport is lost or stolen, immediately report to the
nearest police station. With a copy of the police report and
the photo copy of your passport, go to the passport agency
and find the U.S. citizen department and a new one will be
issued to you, unless other requirements are needed.
On a final note, this month of the holiest seasons, I leave
this with you for this holiday season.
“What Christ is saying always, what he never swerves from
saying, what he says a thousand times, and in a thousand
different ways, but always with the same central unity of
belief is this: “I am my father’s son and you are my
brothers. And the unity that binds us all together, that
makes this earth a family, and all men brothers and sons of
God, is love.”
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About The Author
Reno Litterio is co-founder and current Chairman and
Director of the Ward 4 Senior Citizens Social group.
Litterio may be reached at renowarior@ aol.com. The passage
contained in his column is from Thomas Wolfe: The Anatomy of
Loneliness, American Mercury, October, 1941.
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