Digging for reasons and unearthing Penny's idiosyncrasies, swimming in the mess must be emotionally taxing for you and your team, Anne Marie.
I admire the empathetic service and connection to support your clients. I'd have an insatiable curiosity to uncover all the reasons AND an agitated, frustrated itch to run far far away!
Do you have to wear hazmat suits in this kind of environment?
And we wear protective masks and gloves. If a full hazmat suit is needed, then I called an appropriate subcontractor. Examples of when this would be needed is if there was a significant mouse infestation or black mold growing in the house. These guys don’t do the search we do, but they could make it safe for us to get back in there.
And if someone hoarded cats, then I would not take the job!
Respect, Anne Marie. I'm sure you need to have clinical detachment for some things, but I can see how you'd get emotionally invested in the lives of those you and your team serve. I'm glad that you have this outlet to share, raise awareness - as well as entertain us with the real-life stories! xoxo
I almost hate myself for being so fascinated by this but what can I say? It hits close to home. My mother was a hoarder. I guess more of a level one hoarder - is that a thing? You could walk through her house fairly easily but the corners were packed. It was under control while my dad was alive but in the last 15 years she managed to accumulate a lot. I never knew where it all came from - there were items from her parents house that seemed to crop up out of nowhere.
I am keenly interested in Penny's story. Thanks for bringing it to us.
Thank you Susan! I, too, am fascinated by Penny. Part 3 (last one!) comes out next week.
And yes, hoarding has levels. Stuff piled in corners is indeed Level 1. I wrote about another lovely client with hoarding behavior. Let me find that link…
Like all your tales, I'm enjoying the unfolding of this story, Anne Marie. "It’s like she connected with her audience but never with her family." This line reminds me of what I've learned from film portrayals of Judy Garland and Elvis Presley. Performers who lived for the adoration of their fans, but who couldn't love, or be loved by those who shared their life. It's heartbreaking.
This is fascinating, Anne Marie. I would rather read this than watch lots of the rubbish on Netflix! My parents hoard quite a lot, my father has always had a fixation with tools, and nails, and screws, and gadgets. My mother has kept all her clothes since forever, including many of mine from when I was a teenager. Recently they have been slowly going through things to dump, but I feel it's hard for them to part with things.
I love how much love you put into this work. How much empathy. I look forward to reading more.
Anything and everything, Anne Marie! (Though fortunately, not food, unless it was pickled, canned or frozen.) I've written a couple of pieces that are related
The thought of having to clear the house was so ominous. To be out the other side of it after my parents died and now taking some time to look again at some of the items we saved and write about them is really helping to join the dots in a positive way that I think my mum would have valued.
The work you do in helping people clear their homes is amazing!
Thank you for reading and your kind comments, Anne Marie, and thank you for subscribing - just spotted that! (Other pieces about my mum are the one titled Modern Woman 1950s Style; and The InterBet.)
Digging for reasons and unearthing Penny's idiosyncrasies, swimming in the mess must be emotionally taxing for you and your team, Anne Marie.
I admire the empathetic service and connection to support your clients. I'd have an insatiable curiosity to uncover all the reasons AND an agitated, frustrated itch to run far far away!
Do you have to wear hazmat suits in this kind of environment?
Cheers to insatiable curiosity!
And we wear protective masks and gloves. If a full hazmat suit is needed, then I called an appropriate subcontractor. Examples of when this would be needed is if there was a significant mouse infestation or black mold growing in the house. These guys don’t do the search we do, but they could make it safe for us to get back in there.
And if someone hoarded cats, then I would not take the job!
Respect, Anne Marie. I'm sure you need to have clinical detachment for some things, but I can see how you'd get emotionally invested in the lives of those you and your team serve. I'm glad that you have this outlet to share, raise awareness - as well as entertain us with the real-life stories! xoxo
I almost hate myself for being so fascinated by this but what can I say? It hits close to home. My mother was a hoarder. I guess more of a level one hoarder - is that a thing? You could walk through her house fairly easily but the corners were packed. It was under control while my dad was alive but in the last 15 years she managed to accumulate a lot. I never knew where it all came from - there were items from her parents house that seemed to crop up out of nowhere.
I am keenly interested in Penny's story. Thanks for bringing it to us.
Here it is! https://open.substack.com/pub/annemariebell/p/cynthia-and-silver?r=1by3n7&utm_medium=ios
Thank you Susan! I, too, am fascinated by Penny. Part 3 (last one!) comes out next week.
And yes, hoarding has levels. Stuff piled in corners is indeed Level 1. I wrote about another lovely client with hoarding behavior. Let me find that link…
Like all your tales, I'm enjoying the unfolding of this story, Anne Marie. "It’s like she connected with her audience but never with her family." This line reminds me of what I've learned from film portrayals of Judy Garland and Elvis Presley. Performers who lived for the adoration of their fans, but who couldn't love, or be loved by those who shared their life. It's heartbreaking.
Thank you Ofifoto!
This is fascinating, Anne Marie. I would rather read this than watch lots of the rubbish on Netflix! My parents hoard quite a lot, my father has always had a fixation with tools, and nails, and screws, and gadgets. My mother has kept all her clothes since forever, including many of mine from when I was a teenager. Recently they have been slowly going through things to dump, but I feel it's hard for them to part with things.
I love how much love you put into this work. How much empathy. I look forward to reading more.
Thank you Francesca! It sure is difficult to part with some things.
So interested to see where this goes, Anne Marie. It must have been quite a jolt to see the early photos of her during her ballerina days.
As my mother was a hoarder, I wonder whether she always had those tendencies, or whether life events played a part.
Wendy- thank you for the read! What types of things did your mom hoard?
Anything and everything, Anne Marie! (Though fortunately, not food, unless it was pickled, canned or frozen.) I've written a couple of pieces that are related
https://wendyvarley.substack.com/p/teddy-bear-eyes
and the one about her wartime evacuee experiences and the loss of her violin is telling:
https://wendyvarley.substack.com/p/the-wwii-evacuee-and-her-precious
The thought of having to clear the house was so ominous. To be out the other side of it after my parents died and now taking some time to look again at some of the items we saved and write about them is really helping to join the dots in a positive way that I think my mum would have valued.
The work you do in helping people clear their homes is amazing!
Great posts! I wish I had sat next to your Mum on a bus.
Thank you for reading and your kind comments, Anne Marie, and thank you for subscribing - just spotted that! (Other pieces about my mum are the one titled Modern Woman 1950s Style; and The InterBet.)