With it being a new year, it’s time to get out with the old, and in with the new.
At least this is what I told my mom this past weekend when I went to visit her, after I opened her freezer only to be viscously attacked by the food within. It was evident it was time for a little clean out.
My mom shies away from getting rid of anything, and she apologized for making me clean on my weekend away from my own house. But, ultimately, it’s a rush for me. It might sound strange, but I get enjoyment from cleaning out the fridge. It opens up space, makes everything look bright and new, and makes way for —my favorite — more food. Plus, at my mother’s house, I’ve turned it into a game to find the oldest expired product. Ten points for something at least four years old.
My mom, bless her heart, is a pack rat. She saves and saves, and then burrows things under other things. Yes, I like to call her an aware hoarder. Because she does know that you can’t keep everything, but she still tries.
But, let me tell you, when the zombie apocalypse hits, I know where I am going first.
Perhaps it’s that she thinks she will run out of food, house soldiers in case of a nuclear war, or just save it for a rainy (ok more like a downpour) day.
Maybe it’s because my mother is so nonchalant about it, that’s made me so obsessed with expiration dates and use within timeframes after opening. She sees these as mere suggestions, while I take them very seriously.
But then again, I’ve always been an enjoy the moment kind of girl. I try to live every day like it could be my last. And while I will acknowledge that everything won’t put you six feet under (like her expired shrimp), foods, spices and condiments just lose flavor after the expirations. And I want to enjoy every bite I put in my mouth. Calories are still calories, even if they don’t taste as good.
But I see that it literally pains her to place something in the garbage. So, that’s where she calls in for backup and reinforcement; I just do what any good daughter would do … I take out the trash.
I laugh at her, but I know she can be no other way. My mother always likes to see the best in things and people. Yes, even that sausage that expired back in 2012. Ten points for me.
And I have to admit, this is a somewhat annoying, but endearing quality.
She’s always taught me there can be hope for things lost or forgotten. Of course, there are some things that just can never be revived, like the poor little, frozen, squashed banana I found.
But she reminds me that everything has a purpose and a use, as she throws her old bread off her deck to feed the birds.
I like the way she tries to use up everything. And I like, despite all the chaos in the world (or the freezer), she has the ability to still think the best of people.
She’s always said she’s an optimist, and I’m the pessimist.
But I like to think that while we are opposites, we still complement each other. Like salt and pepper … one of us enhances the flavor and the other spices it up. (It’s debatable, but I think she may be the spice.)
Of all the things my mother has taught me to save, the things I remember most are: Savor life, family and friends, and the little moments; the best part of dinner is the conversation afterward; don’t always save the best part for last, because sometimes dessert is so good, it’s worth eating first; and keep an open mind because people can surprise you, when you least expect it, so don’t ever write someone off.
I’m glad we’re so different, because otherwise, we would have nothing to learn from one another.
Every now and then it’s good to look at things from a different perspective.
Because, in the end, I realize we both are right.
Sometimes it’s important to appreciate things others might overlook or reject, it’s good to have something tucked away in the freezer for a rainy day, and it’s also necessary to clean things out and start fresh again, because life is too short to waste it.
