On Day 10, I cleared out the second mystery box. It had a lot of my younger son’s childhood and teen items. Kept some, gave some away, and gifted other items. It’s his story to share, not mine.

This morning, Day 10A, I tackled The Hall of Hell Closet. It serves as a coat rack, holiday pillow/blanket exchange, my toolbelt, vacuum cleaner, step stool, and lots of bags. There are paper bags from the grocery store that I use for recycling paper and plastic containers; a bag of papers to be shredded; and plastic bags and packaging that I take to Hannaford grocery store to be recycled.

When it’s hellish, the bags are on top of each other with items falling out. When I reach to get something on the top shelf and am too lazy to use the step stool that is right in front of me, I get hit in the head by an avalanche of chaos.

The coats get jammed in so tight, I have to remove some to find the coat I need. It’s a tornado of turmoil that leaves me frustrated.

Again counting on Marie Kondo’s techniques, I removed everything from the closet. I did release a leather bomber jacket that will get donated and tossed a fanny pack and safety ear muffs that they boys used when we took them to dirt biking and monster truck shows.

I moved a lot to other spaces. All winter items except for snow pants went in a storage bench that’s in our family room. I’ll be able to easily find my winter gear!

My photo hanging supplies are in a basket, so they will no longer fall into the bags or get lost in the coats.

I cleaned out my toolbelt that Luke bought me when we put in wood floors with his father. It was one of the last times he was at our house before he passed, so his energy is forever a part of our home. I basically grabbed and laid out pieces and cleaned up debris but my tools did get used!

The hammer was my Pappoús’—my mother’s father. I don’t know have a lot of stories about him (am working on this with my mom), but I do know that he was a painter. He used this hammer at his jobs. It’s covered in paint—memories stored on a wooden palette. When my mom was 16, he purchased a Remington typewriter for her so she could type his bills of sale and contracts. We found it in her storage unit and now it’s a part of my writing space.

These items are precious to me as a writer and family historian.

I didn’t purge much but I reorganized and reconnected with important and impactful men in our family. This hammer will be part of my legacy list—something that will be passed on with a story.

What reminds you of your father, grandfather, great-grandfather or someone who is a paternal figure to you?