Harriette Leidich

The other day I had one of those recurring urges to get rid of some items which have been cluttering basement shelves for a long time. When I moved to the area over 16 years ago I neatly stacked and stored belongings. Now I need to be rid of them. What I thought might be valuable and interesting to my sons later is no longer an excuse to keep "stuff."

With this in mind -- to dispose of anything that is not useful, beautiful or joyful to own, I began the task. All wasn’t lost in the effort as I took time to look back at a part of my life that I thought was quite interesting. One such item was a briefcase I used when I worked for a fund-raising agency. The gadgets in that case were so dated that I chuckled out loud. I don’t even know what they are any more because computers and iPods make everything easier.

Nevertheless I found legal papers which aren’t really needed any more, trip itineraries, bills marked paid, and copies of letters made by using a carbon sheet. How ancient! But there is this accumulation of papers, etc., that will be acquainted with a shredder when I get back to that job I started months, or was it years ago.

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Suppliers are always thinking of ways to promote their products. Since I am a boxtop reader I always look for what manufacturers and purveyors of foodstuffs have to say. For instance one of the suppliers had a little reminder on its container that read "A kind word can be as refreshing as a spring shower."

And as usual banana suppliers have a sticker on them and a recent one said "I love you and your heart." Another banana sticker said "Yum, yum, potassium."

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One of the nicest social events in our area are the garden teas that Rose Carlson hosts every year. Her garden is at full bloom, the bluebirds put on a show as they flit in and out feeding their young, and there is always a delicious dessert to be served.

Rose selects mornings, afternoon and evening dates for her friends to attend the tea. There are certain age groups and you can choose when you want to attend.

I decided to go to the morning "tea" and was picked up by a friend as I am no longer driving my car. There were more than a dozen ladies in attendance that morning and I again met people I had never known before. It was a pleasure.

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GLEANINGS: "The ornaments of a house are the friends who frequent it."

Harriette Leidich, a retired journalist, lives in North Bennington.