Rearranging Things

Mom sent me this letter about reorganizing my closet shortly after I left for college. It’s funny now to think about what a daunting task it must have been for her to try to deal with the disastrous mess of a teenage boy’s junk. I can still remember how precariously I’d balanced boxes of comics and old toys and clothes in there. She’s lucky she wasn’t crushed.

I should note that I have no idea who Wayne and Tom are; they must have been coworkers of hers.

September 9, 1991
Dearest David,

I came to work a little early today, but I don’t feel like starting, so I thought I’d drop you a quick note. I wish we had more time to talk, but I feel like an intruder – I know I’m calling too much – I’ll probably freak when I get this month’s phone bill. I’m sorry. It’s just that you’ve been such a big part of my life for so long, the center actually (you and Jenny) … You may not think I’ve let you go — you will never know the monumental efforts I have made to get this far.

At least I know I’m not the only one! Wayne says a lot of kids up there have pagers. Or, was it Tom? Oh, well.

I fixed your door Saturday. Actually, “fixed” is not quite accurate. It’s pretty much glued – OK super-glued, to the wall and it swings quite nicely. And I stained the doorfront and the threshhold (2 H’s?) which looked pretty bad. The only problem is – the door doesn’t exactly close all the way. It’s only off by a hair, a thick, coarse hair, but only a hair. I think we should maybe plane something at some future date – if we had a plane. OK – so I tried, and, to be frank, IT LOOKS MARVELOUS!

Oh, I also cleaned out the laundry room and your closet. I actually had to move that top shelf because the whole thing was pulled out. Those boxes were way too heavy. I put light things up there — like your three sleeping bags and a Mickey blanket, etc. I also found an empty Rum bottle – but we’ll discuss that later. The only things I threw away were an empty Nintendo box and the box your 4×4 came in. I felt so sick at heart when I saw the box. Maybe I shouldn’t have tossed it; I remembered you selling it last year and then regretting it. I feel so badly that I can’t give you guys more. It hurts to know how bad it felt for you. I’m sorry. I guess the only thing I can say is that, ultimately, every single person alive learns that “things” aren’t the most important. Doesn’t always help to hear that. I don’t know, maybe it was even as important to you as it was to me. Or maybe it was. Please forgive me.

Whew! Sorry. I just wanted to tell you your closet was done. Everything else in there is just rearranged. I know you probably haven’t been able to concentrate on your studies for worrying about that shelf …

Speaking of which, are you partying every night? Please, honey, for your own sake, use some serious discretion. Please. I know I sound like a broken record; maybe it’s because I know what can happen and I know you. Have fun, but don’t lose sight of why you’re there — it’s to learn, to grow, to make the first steps to a good life for yourself. (Did I forget anything).

I gotta go — I love you, more than you’ll ever know.

Mom