Pearl's leaving the north .. step #2

The second hurtle to leaving the north, after making the decison and putting in the paper work, is what to do with the stuff I have collected over the past 3 plus years. Anyone who knows me , knows that I do not travel lightly. I would have been the woman on the wagon train throwing out the piano, the box of feathered hats and all the pots, but one, as I worked my way across the Canadian sheild. Man oh man where does the stuff come from?

I have "gifted' my few friends with things I know they will enjoy. George had arrived with a suitcase full of wonderful teas and coffees the end of April. Giving that away, allowed me to get down to the other layers in the freezer. They say tea keeps forever but I would have had to been in Salluit for 100 years to use up all that I was sent. You notice I am not mentioning what I brought up.

I have not tackled the baking cupboard. I keep opening the door and then I close it again. I will have to do something with all the weird things that Pearl cannot cook without. I have giant economy bottles of vanilla, lemon and almond flavouring. I think my Dad buys the commercial sized bottles for me. I have 7 different kinds of baking chocolate. I do make a great many pecan pies... altho lemon is the hands down favourite, pecan does a brisk business. I even started making choc pecan pies just to use up some of the choc.

I sold all my small appliances. Some had only been used once or twice. What a crush at the appliance table. I think I had more stock that the Co-op and Northern combined. The prices were better for sure. What I was not prepared for was people taking the decorations off the wall. I had presumed that if something did not have a large price tag, then people would know it was not for sale. I was wrong.

I sold a ton of food. I had two tables and the sideboard covered with food. A Woolaver does not go anywhere without preparing for several natural disasters. I could easily anticipate fire, flood and snow storm without missing a heart beat. If someone said they liked rolled oats for breakfast then I felt I had to have a lifetime supply on hand. When Gladys said she like the German potato pancake mixes I had several different types shipped in. Not only did I have to deal with my fears but those of my Dad. I have canned meat, canned fish, canned bacon ( Norweigan... it is lovely)canned beans ( as well as a ton of dried beans) and because of the beans I have a gallon of molasses.

Once Dad knew how much the kids liked corn bread he picked up many different types in the southern states he visited. I can just hear him saying: " Let's just drive up to Georgia and get some cornbread mix for Pearl's kids." No one has made up more corn bread than I have the past 3 years. The kids do love it and truth be told they come over t o bake it.

And my little house became a Frenchies outlet. Both parents went nuts finding bargains . I sold everything left for a dollar. I had tried to give away all the down coats, baby clothes, fleece garments... My friends here started avoiding me if htey heard another parcel had arrived.

Things like the big TV went so quickly. I was amazed at how fast that went. The day of the major sale, Saturday, was a very stressful day. Too many people, too much stuff and too much excitement. I have done the Harrods' sale several times but I have never seen anything like this... the grabbing, the pushing, the yelling. I was very glad when it was over. I still have a few things but people are only coming one or two at a time now. That is much better.

Now I must finish the packing. I look at everything , asking if I will really need it down south. I don't want to take many books but there is no where to put them here in Salluit. Kativik School Board does not allow us to put books in the library and there is no library in the village. It seems a real shame for books to come up to the community, all that freight paid, all the fuel burned to get it here and then to have to ship it all down again. I have so many political books that are good reading and I don't want to take them south.

I have a house full of books already in my southern home. Years ago I sold a great deal of "stuff" out of my home.... the kids had left and I was seriously going to sell. I had even got rid of most of the beds. Then some of the kids came back and now all 5 bdrms are full of beds, dishes, and books. So I don't want to take much more down with me. Since Sara runs that house now I expect her to be on the steps searching out good that she thinks are not necessary. She is a bit bossy... but then apples dont fall far from trees.

But I have another ace up my sleeve... the house my parent s bought me in Digby. Just when I was sure it was time to throw out a few more things... they bought me a house. Ain't life grand... messy... cluttered.. but grand.