In 1939 E. B. White
journeyed to Walden Pond in honor of the simple way of life described in
Thoreau’s book, Walden; or Life in the Woods. White subsequently wrote an essay, “Walden,”* in
the form of a letter to the long-dead Thoreau. He said, “As our common
complexities increase, any tale of simplicity (and yours is the best written
and cockiest) acquires a new fascination; as our goods accumulate, but not our
well-being, your report of an existence without material adornment takes on a
certain awkward credibility.”
Imagine how much more
cluttered with stuff and more unmanageable our lives are now, compared to
White’s life in 1939.
Personally, I’m sick of it.
Stiffling stuff has taken over my house; the accumulation of 38 years becomes
more and more disorderly. The bookcases, and there are many of them, overflow.
Materials and equipment for many art forms line shelves in my studio and the
basement. My sock drawer is stuffed with panty hose, which I haven’t worn for
decades, various unmatched socks, and a collection of old glasses. I could go
on, but you get the picture. Something has to be done.
Don’t gt me wrong. I don’t
intend to emulate Thoreau, living on forage and beans grown in our garden, but
I do want all the things I no longer use or care about to be gone.
Luckily, my daughter Carol
is coming to visit. Carol, who has moved many times, is an expert in purging.
She will help me clean house, in the sense of ridding out. Oh, I look forward
to having the time to gaze upon the beauties of nature
and to contemplate infinity.
* E. B. White’s essay is
included his collection of essays, One Man’s Meat.
Copyright
2014 by Shirley Domer
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