OVERWHELMED WITH PAPER!!

Blue Monday is hosted by Sally at Smiling Sal. Check out her blog for a list of those participating in a variety of blue on a Monday!

I submit the following for Blue Monday in hopes that my new pretty blue magazine holders qualify!!

While Bob has been toiling away putting up crown molding and painting in our computer room; I've been trying to make some sense of a bunch of paper stuff that was stored in the room. I believe the fancy name of this stuff is called ephemera! You see both Bob and I grew up in this "Happy Days" small town in Colorado. Both sides of my family had lived in "Happy Days" since the 1870s - we still have relatives there!

My family were Savers (with a capital S). They saved every type of paper: checks, letters, postcards, bills, photos, etc. And somehow, a lot of it seemed to have landed in a cupboard in our computer room. Plus, I must admit, Bob and I have such fond memories of "Happy Days", we have added to the pile of paper by buying postcards, etc. of our then idealistic little town. I've been wanting to move that cupboard to the back porch for storage of cushions, etc. for over the winter. So, you guessed it, I had to deal with all of the paper stuff. It was time to sort it out!! So for two days, I've been OVERWHELMED WITH PAPER. This is what my guest bedroom has looked like.

I really am trying to make some sense out of it.
I found 97 different picture postcards of "Happy Days" dating from 1897 to the 1980s; pictures of the schools, churches, farms, ranches, street scenes, and celebrations.

There are over 100 statements of accounts at a variety of businesses including cancelled checks and letterheads dating from the 1800s. There is a check written by one of my grandfathers to my other grandfather on the other side of my family paid in full for sheep. There are checks that my mother wrote at Bob's family grocery store.

I just can't make myself dispose of this slice of history! It is sad, really, because the town of "Happy Days" has deteriorated and is wasting away. There are very few businesses anymore, population has declined.

So I organized it as best as I could in notebooks and pretty blue magazine holders so it will fit on a couple of shelves in the bookcases. Someday, maybe we will donate this ephemera to the little museum in "Happy Days". I was feeling pretty good about accomplishing this task, when Bob reminded me that there are still several trunks in the shed to be gone through. I guess I'm still behind on my paper work. Oh, well, another time!!

See my pretty blue magazine holders.

When I was feeling overwhelmed, I thought of this picture I had taken of a gas station in "Happy Days". This desk has been in this condition for about 10 years. Do you suppose the owner feels just a little BLUE and overwhelmed? Sorry, about the quality of the picture; but this desk was just too good (or bad?) not to share.

So, when you get behind on your paper work, just remember someone is further behind than you!!!



Thanks for stopping by,
Sally