Lightening the Load

Roland and I are visiting with a realtor on Saturday about putting our house on the market. This has been a great house to raise our family in, but now its rather empty--with lots of yardwork and the typical upkeep of a big house.

So for the past few weeks Roland and I have been cleaning out closets and getting rid of things we've been carrying around for a lot of years. I'm not much of packrat, but it's been monumental, especially for Roland. But the way I see it, when our children don't have to throw things out that their parents wouldn't part with, we'll have spared them alot of grief!

So over the weekend we took a few pictures of some of the "precious" items that we've been storing in boxes. Hopefully, these pictures will remind us of Roland's crazy and fun youth!

The first picture is a trophy he received in 1973 from Sigma Gamma Chi, the church's fraternity. Roland grew discouraged about all the fundraisers the fraternity had so that they could hold big formal dances at expensive places and suggested they do some service. So they voted him to be the service coordinator! Among other service projects he encouraged the fraternity to walk together in a fundraiser for the March of Dimes. His buddies made a trophy for him. The inscription on it says, " 1973 Walkathon/ . . . one small step for . . . Roland Roberts . . . one giant leap for the March of Dimes/ Presented by Sigma Gamma Chi."


When Roland was on his mission in Chile, several of the missionaries had these hats that the Chilean National Police Force wore as part of their uniform. Roland, too, really wanted one. So a member of the church got him one. He's lookin' might tough now! I suggested we get a glass box to display this hat in and he thought I was making fun of him for keeping it. But I wasn't! Really, I wasn't! However, upon further inspection the moths have been enjoying making hole in the wool. Oh, well.

You may remember Roland collected whips while on his mission. It sounds rather kinky to me, but he assures me that it was just a crazy, fun thing to collect--and there were so many different, cool ones! He had already thrown several away. This one apparently was his favorite--or maybe it just held up longer? He's also holding onto his lasso. However, now the leather is cracking and why put them all back in the box one more time when we can take a picture and brag about his collection and playful spirit?! Admire as you like, but these items aren't around anymore for anyone to fight over!

We're not sure if the house will sell. With the market the way it is, we may have to settle for a lower selling price. But that condo waiting for us surely will have a lower buying price for us, too! Regardless, our load is a little lighter now.