The good kind of clutter.

A friend asked, ‘What did you buy for yourself? While you were away in France.’ After thinking for a while. I had to confess. Really, nothing. Other than the essentials. Such as room accommodations. Train tickets.  Food. Especially, French pastries. It was hard for to be pass up a pastry shop. Just to look. I didn’t have to buy anything.  Turns out. I arrived with two checked bags. And returned with only one. I threw out many changes of clothes. That I really didn’t need. Underwear. Turtlenecks. Socks. Shirts. Spare trousers. Some day. My aim is to come back without a single packed bag. Only what I’m wearing. And can carry in my pockets. Back home. I have far more clothes than I can wear. In a normal lifetime. I accumulate. Clutter. Clutter everywhere. I need fewer and fewer material possessions. Anyway, I returned with memories. Some of which will last. For a lifetime. Now that’s the good kind of clutter. Stuff I can write about. --Jim Broede