Letting Go
Sometimes a treasure comes home with me and I struggle to let it go. The idea is I should resell things – for a profit – as it is silly to hold onto every single adorable item I pick up. Otherwise, my children would be stuck dealing with way too much stuff when I am no longer around . Hopefully my blogs will help them recognize the importance of some things, and the emotional connection of others. These ramblings are in a sense my attempt to capture those connections.
I helped my mother through the painful process of slowly discarding her life’s collection of “stuff” after my father died in 2010. She moved into a community where she would stay for 11 years, with each subsequent move into a smaller space as her care needs increased. And each time I was the child who did all the work to move her, assessing what to keep and what to surround her with as she declined towards her death in 2021. It is a difficult process to let go for some people. My mom not so much – she did not place much sentiment in things. I, however, seem much more inclined to like Stuff. This statue is a case in point.
I picked her up at an estate sale recently, which of course indicates some other family was starting that process. Realistically I should not refer to it as “her” as it is actually a couple, but the busty woman most definitely spoke to me. I love her strong woman vibe, hoisting that prim and proper guy over her head. The top hat man spoke to my circus themed room, which has a few “ringmaster” men on display. There is something about the piece that makes me smile, and of course makes me think of relationships in general. I had no idea “what” it was, did not ‘google image search it”, nor did I actually care and happily paid $16 for the piece. Turns out, she is valuable.
The piece is called “Public Debate” and was made by Lisa Larson in 1968. Larson (1931- 2024) was a Swedish ceramist and is much beloved in her native country. (Read a lovely blog post about her here: https://fishinkblog.com/2024/03/12/lisa-larson-world-exclusive-interview-for-fishinkblog-3/). While teaching ceramic at the College of Crafts and Design in Gothenburg, she was invited to work for a year at the Gustavsberg porcelain factory in 1954. She stayed until 1980 when she began working freelance, eventually founding her own studio in 1992. Her pieces are highly collectible, and too numerous to count. This one seemed to be worth a good deal more than $16. The debate in our house was the need to sell her.
I didn’t want to, obviously, but as I don’t actually “work”, bringing in money to offset my thrifting addiction is a wise idea. And the fact that items I find do not have an emotional connection in my life – other than the appreciation of the work done by an artist, the enjoyment of their beauty and humor, and the curating of our home with treasures. My children will not be pleased if every single item I love ends up stacked deep in our barn. Sadly, I sold her – mind you at a great profit, but still it was a sad day when I shipped her off.
Sometimes you must though. Life has a way of throwing things at you, and sometimes the best thing to do is spend time with those you love, not cling to found treasures. I am sad at the moment, which is never a good place to start writing, but the reality is life is transient. We hold onto the people we love, the treasures we collect, the spaces we reside. But sometimes you have to let go. It is good training to let go of stuff, as letting go of loved ones is a much more difficult process. Watching my mother go through her final years was a painful reminder that relationships are truly the most important thing to cultivate in your life. Holding Mom’s hand in her final hours -during the depth of the Covid crisis – was profound, and difficult. Her life had dwindled to a single room, isolated due to the Covid restrictions, as well as her struggle with dementia. As I looked around her room I realized how few things remained of the life Mom lived. A few important pieces of art. Family photos. A few collected treasures and mementos. I am sorry to be so maudlin, but I am struggling with letting go – both figuratively and literally – and I realize that the important thing is to love.