Photos & story by Terry Binando
A couple of months ago I volunteered to help clean up a yard that belongs to a hoarder. 20 truck loads later, I was shocked that people could have that much stuff! But it’s not only the hoarders, we all have a lot of material possessions. According to an article in the L.A. Times published in March 2014, “There are over 300,000 items in the average American home.” I wanted to this see for myself.
A Craigslist ad led me to Betty Booher’s estate sale. After getting permission to photograph, I found out that Betty, the owner of the estate, passed away unexpectedly. “Betty was 82 going on 18. She was outgoing, loved traveling, her smart phone and she was an avid Seahawks fan,” said Booher’s niece.
The house was packed. A lot of items for one person. One room is full of just shoes and clothes. “We didn’t know she owned all of these,” said Booher’s niece.
What is it that makes us hold on to things? Why is it that we are afraid to let go? Is our value as a person measured by how much we own?
There is no right formula, but a balance must be maintained. Figuring out what to keep and what to let go of is needed for a stable, happy life.
As for the rest of Betty’s stuff, “We hope to sell as much as we can because what doesn’t get sold will go to the dump,” said her son-in-law.
