Cleaning Off My Desk Part II

This desk cleaning stuff seems to never end pholks, even though it is an interesting task.

I don't care who you are, it just isn't possible to throw the whole mess away without taking some kind of inventory and making dozens and dozens of decisions — save or trash.

Two thoughts continue to linger in my mind: This is important or I wouldn't have kept it and someday I or someone else will need this. Such thoughts, I believe, are etched somewhere in each of our brains during desk-cleaning outs or other moving tasks. The mind etching thing works because there usually isn't any space left to put a carved or printed signs of those sayings in our desks or “keeper” drawer.

A couple weeks ago I had whittled the pile on the top of my desk and five good sized drawers down by about 38 percent. So, with Labor Day off and nothing better to do and the dreaded desk cleaning out deadline lurking ever closer by the day, I labored at the stupid desk. Although I didn't take time to fully estimate my accomplishments, my best guess is that I'm somewhere around 70 percent complete. Others might disagree with that estimate but they don't have an inkling of how much I've tossed and just how much stuff is in those sturdy drawers.

I'm a little reluctant and a little ashamed to admit it, but the thought of setting the desk contents on fire crossed my mind several times over the last few weeks. Of course I would have taken extreme precautions not to burn down the office and would have had extinguishers on the ready if I had followed through. I nixed that idea after realizing that such cramped desk drawers could not provided enough oxygen to support any flames in the first place. And who says science classes are a waste of time for most students?

When all is said and done I expect to have two or three small to medium boxes of “stuff” to transfer to the new office location. The “stuff” should fit easily. I'm certainly not naïve enough to believe that all the “keeper” stuff really is important but what's a person to do?

Letters and notes of praise for a story or a column are hard to throw away. Even some which take exception or are outright mean and nasty are sometimes hard to toss.

Then there were what I term the “nutcase” responses or questions I've received over the years, some of which simply have to be kept to prove their reality. There are some real strange ones.

Of course there are quite a few notes passed along containing column ideas or story suggestions which I didn't have time to check out when more “timely” subjects took priority. Who knows, some may still be viable. Of course some of potential story subjects have died, moved away, or an issue since resolved. Those could possibly have enough potential historical significance to earn “keeper' status.

Although the Internet can hardly be surpassed as a research tool, it is tough decision to save or toss a yellowed by age November, 1991 newspaper featuring a story about a “60 Minutes” broadcast and Tulare County Superior Court Judge Howard Broadman and a controversial local court case. I kept it.

Several other papers, including some really old Valley Voices are making the move with the desk.

I didn't take time to check our newspaper morgue to see if other copies are there, but why take a chance.

Photos of local pholks have piled up for years despite “please return” notes attached to them. I figure than if those people didn't come in to claim them or complain about not getting them back, they weren't that badly needed.

Since I forget, they probably did too. The adage about sleeping dogs applies surely applies.

I have returned a few things and a couple more are under consideration, time and circumstances considered.
Anyway, as the bottom layers are making their way to the surface I expect some more surprises.

If I find something connected to any of you pholks, or if you think I might have it, let me know, but remember, no promises.