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| Volume 1 Issue7 January-February, 2004 |
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| There lives a creature, a somewhat docile, creative, sometimes topsy-turvy creature. Her name is Alice. One day she received news that her mother was not well and needed help. "Oh dear, oh my Oh dear, oh my," said Alice. The little creature paced back and forth, and forth and back, nearly tripping over her three cats as they scurried out of her way. "I must do something to help. I cannot stop working, oh dear no, but I must do something to help." She put things in best order as she could and had someone take care of her cats and hopped on a bus all the way to her hometown in another state... She went back and forth, and forth and back for several months. Then ...oh dear, oh my, a sniffle and a tear, her mother passed away. Oh dear, oh my, what can I say, she really did not want to remember that day...it was right in the middle of her workday that she received the call. Oh dear, oh my. Many thoughts trampled her mind as she road on the bus to her hometown. Oh dear. So many memories, so much to do. And, oh...then I must clean out the apartment and attic if...if...I don stay there. Oh dear, oh my. A sniffle and a tear. She took a deep breath and became somewhat numb. There is much to do! I will keep my apartment for a while until I know what needs to be done.... Alice Goes Into The Attic She had to give up her job and apartment and go to her hometown to take care of everything. Alice needed to work and obtained a job in her hometown state. She worked long hours as she tried to sort things out. But, little Alice delayed going into the attic. She couldn't bear the thought of what was up there...she had nightly visions of boxes and things following her to work. But each time she tried going up into the attic she gulped and froze and the nightmares continued. "...Whew. Must get started on this task." And a BIG task it was! ...She looked up toward the attic and shook her head. She stared at it. Each time she went to pull at the string that would open the attic door, her heart pounded. Then, she yelled at herself "Silly Alice. How will things get done if you don't start doing them? Silly Alice". So Alice pulled down the ladder leading to the attic. She was prepared -- somewhat -- at least she had on her oldest clothes. She slowly walked up the ladder steps taking a deep, deep breath as she approached the top step and pulled the chain for the light bulb. She'd always been nervous about being in the attic. It did not have much light, it was high up, and had only narrow walkways. She turned on the light and looked around. "EEEEEK!" She screamed. And her hair stood up on end. "Oh dear. Oh my. Oh dear, oh my. Oh dear, oh my!" She could not believe her eyes. Packed high, strewn everywhere were 'things', clothes, furniture, toys books, papers, whatnots, dishes, boxes, more boxes, and more boxes, trunks, suitcases -- all piled high and everywhere. And...Dust. Things here, things there, things everywhere! Boxes here, boxes there, boxes everywhere! "Hachew. Haaaachew." Alice shook her head in disbelief. How am I going to take care of all this. She couldn't go beyond the opening of the attic. She tried to move the boxes but they were too heavy filled with books, more books, magazines, more magazines..... Alice sat on the top ledge of the attic ladder and shook her head. Sooo many of her things from the day she was born, sooo many of her son's things were piled high up there along with some other items from her mother, and a few things from her father. it would be fun going through these things though, but...ugh...double ugh....what a task!...Forty-three + years of...stuff. Forty-three years of junk? Nah, forty-three years of memories and whatever. Yeah, junk too... What was she going to do...and the things need to be cleaned as well. Ugh. Double, triple ugh! "Oh dear. Oh my" A few tears ran down her face making long streaks through the dust on her face.....She grabbed a few books out of the boxes and emptied the boxes one at a time. They were way to heavy to lug down the attic steps. Some of the boxes were ancient and fell apart. Her hair was still standing on end and she was covered with dust and soot from head to toe and in each an every pore of her skin. She was melting. It was summer, and the hottest summer in years..It was at least 95 degrees outside and...well...probably 110 degrees in the attic. She was completely melted and decided to take a break. The apartment was at least air conditioned. She managed to get down the attic ladder. "Whew!" She looked around at all the books and stuff that were the prelude to an even more gigantic task: deciding what to do with everything. Many of the items were, well....somewhat salvageable....others were very OK -- she remembered they were wrapped well but hidden...somewhere....and others were...well...food for the big muncher trash trucks. "Where am I going to put all this? I won't have any space to even walk around! Oh dear. Oh my." She was exasperated as she slowly walked into the bathroom to wash her hands and looked into the mirror. "Eeeek! She screamed loudly again. She was an absolute mess. Her hair stuck out on end (literally). The dust from the attic all over her... She tried to sleep that night, but she had more nightmares of ghoulish boxes and things looming into view, dust swirling around like a tornado, and items popping out from everywhere...then she woke up with a start. "Oh dear. Oh my. I haven't even started on the closets and...back room. Yikes!"... There is lot's more to the story, but, Alice did finally clean out the attic, closets, and back room. Some of the items are now being sold on the website. Yup. They are all authentic. She's even laughing about the experience, but still recuperating. . |
| ALICE IN THE ATTIC |
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| HOW IT ALL BEGAN Excerpts from the Story "Alice in the Attic" PPSchnepf Creator, Owner/President Alice in the Attic I |
| Some of you who are reading this know how it is to clean out an attic, basement, house, or apartment where you and your folks/relatives once lived with things stored and piled high "here, there, and everywhere". You will also remember how you had to find a place to put these things, while you decided what to do with everything. You will probably laugh and shake your head remembering all this as you read the story. But, for those you who have not had to do such a thing, yet, take a hint. PREPARE. Try to sort and organize things -- try to get your folks to do the same...even if they are "stubborn." Otherwise, you'll probably wind up becoming "Alice in the Attic!" and agonizing well before you appreciate what you find. |
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