I went through a box I had stored in my cousin's basement for 4 years. I had a total meltdown. Hundreds of pictures and momentos from years ago. There I sat in the middle of my living room, surrounded by pictures, momentos that no one in my family wants. How can I possibly put a what represented by entire life growing up in a dumpster? I called my brother, cousins - everyone said no. So I plowed through everything, sobbing all the way through. I felt like I was throwing my life away.

So, I called my former SIL in Michigan and I gotta tell ya, she's one wise woman. She told me to sort them into 2 piles. One pile to be tossed in the trash and all the other stuff (and believe me that was only one box, I still have another one to go through) and the other store. She said to type out instructions for my executrix (my BFF Susie) with copies, instructions that all photographs, momentos and deceased cats' ashes be put in the box with my body for cremation. My ashes will be scattered at Bolton Lake and my memories will be with me forever.