This blog will be a bit personal…because it’s what I’ve been dealing with the past few weeks. I apologize for my lack in blogging, but I had a hard time feeling chipper about things when we were in the midst of covering the Sueppel family’s tragic story. It's hardly appropriate to blog about Brangelina or Britney when something so sad is happening here.

That said, I feel it’s time to blog again. We need a bit of light fodder to help us through tough times.

So..today, I write about a dilemma. I’m having to learn to share all over again.

I know it’s a lesson most learn at about age 2, when they’re taught to share toys and such with other younguns. But now I’m facing the prospect of having to share my personal space!

I’ve lived alone, with my cats, for years. And now, my fiancé managed to sell his house (A feat in this market!) so he’s moving in to my house in Cedar Rapids. We’re very excited about all the prospects: getting to see each other more than 2 times a week, saving money by consolidating to one mortgage, cooking for two.

But we both know it’s coming. My stuff has to merge with his. And that means we pretty much have two of everything. I have an amazingly large infatuation with shoes. I have a LOT of suits. I also have tons of clothing in general. And not to mention “my stuff”. I admit to being a packrat.

So over the past few weeks, he’s been bringing carfuls of books, kitchen appliances, ballcaps, and other odds and ends. And let me tell you, it’s amazing to see how one house can immediately be filled up to the brim.

I also think, however, this will be a great test for us. We’ve had a wonderful long distance relationship for our entire relationship. It’s going to be interesting being in eachother’s space all the time. But when our “stuff” is now in the same closet, the same basement, the same kitchen. It’s taught me to be respectful of the fact that he’s coming into my home, a sacrifice for him (He was just getting attached to his home, because he’d fixed it up!) I’m also learning that it’s sometimes good to get rid of the clutter in life. I had so many things, and they were just taking up space. There’s a clutter and lifestyle change expert who’s been on Oprah several times. Maybe I need someone like this to come to my house J

Anyway, I think the whole process is teaching me to be a more respectful and streamlined human being. There’s a stigma that your “stuff” makes you feel good. I agree, there’s something about a comfort zone. But once I started the process of getting rid of excess (which I did NOT want to do!) I started to feel liberated. Another expert on Oprah says excess stuff can actually make you unhealthy.

Who knew? So it’s a new era in my life, and a very exciting one. And now I have a roommate to share my newfound knowledge with. But that doesn’t mean I can’t miss the shoes I gave to goodwill, right?