Just Things

I was at my parent's yesterday and as we got ready to head out to do some shopping, I grabbed my handbag from the side table without realising that the strap had gotten hold of a vase of ornamental glass flowers on the table.  And before I knew it, the whole thing came crashing onto the floor and glass shattered everywhere.  It was like I was watching it in slow motion but unable to do anything.  Mom was naturally upset.  The vase and a few flowers escaped unscathed but the majority of the lot broke into pieces.  Dad immediately went to pick up the broom and rubbish collector, beckoning mom to move and beware of the pieces of glass.  Mom, upset yelled out, 'Biarlah kaki saya luka! (Just let my feet get cut!)'

What could I say.  I mostly felt bad because I didn't really feel bad about the whole thing.  I always told mom she had too many things around the house.  Too much clutter.  There were two vases of flowers on that particular side table.  Mom likes to buy stuff.  Stuff she doesn't really need or already has.  She likes collecting it all.  And really, it was an accident.  I didn't mean for it to happen.  Mom continued to mumble how she wouldn't be able to find those sort of flowers again.

I kept thinking and saying to her, it's just things.  And I kept thinking of that last lecture by Randy Pausch, where he spoke about things being just things and how people were more important.  Of course, it's easy for me to say and of course,  I would probably be more upset if that something were to happen to my own stuff.  I try to tell Yasmin this, every time she starts demanding for new toys (even a day after she'd just gotten new ones).  I say, it's just a thing. You don't need so many things.  But no, she says.  She needs it.  What if it finishes and we can't find anymore?  I want to tell her to not be too materialistic.  (I blame the internet - youtube and amazon!).

It's not that I think those flowers of mom's weren't significant for her.  Nor do I think that we shouldn't take care of the things that we have.  I don't go around breaking and losing things on purpose.  We get so upset when we lose or damage these things because we paid money for them in the first place.  That was their value.  In the end, in one month, one year's time...are those things really going to matter?  Mom has a lot of things that I think she doesn't even remember she has.  Of course, I do have a lot of things that have sentimental and significant meaning to me.  Some toys even from when I was a teeny kid.  And it's great being able to pass them on to Yasmin now... for long enough before she gets distracted by something else.

But I still think there's just too many things around.  (Remember Wall-E?) If it were up to me, I'd send the bunch for recycling, throw them away or to someone who might want them.  It's just things.  I'd rather have less of it all...but more meaningful things.

PS..Sorry mom..