The Givers

Although it always seems to take a lot longer to get settled than you think it will, I have really come to appreciate the entire process of moving. It forces me to sit down and item by item go through all of our “stuff.” Packing puts me face to face with my unfailing consumer misjudgments and regrettable spontaneous purchases.

Remember the children's book called "The Borrowers?" It was about tiny people who lived in your house and "borrowed" things to furnish their small house--like a spool of thread for a dinner table. I heard a theory that houses have reverse borrowers called "The Givers." I instantly connected to this imaginative masterpiece. So every time I find something like, let's say, a bag of egg noodles, in my pantry I think to myself, "Oh, The Givers left that here." They must have been very busy in our last house. They gave me, an extra dust ruffle for my bed, 8 cans of various beans, a pair of hot-pink tights (yikes!), 1 bag of dog food for the dog we do not own and have never owned, and a swimming pool sweeper.

I guess I like "the givers," I just wish they shopped at Anthropologie instead of Wal-mart.