If you enjoy staying indoors during these winter months (there are still forty-four days till spring!), you might want to do what you have been postponing all these years: organize all your old photos: those photos hidden in your closets, drawers, and banker boxes stored in a basement corner — photos you haven’t looked at for years!
From sorting my photos, which I have not finished, I have learned that there are several suggested steps.
First, gather all your photos in a place where you have room to sort them and can leave them out for a few weeks. The dining room table? Or on the floor in a seldom-used room — if you don’t mind getting up off the floor, which I do!
Pace yourself. It’s a big job. Spend one to two hours at a time. It may take you longer than you think as you recall the stories inspired by each photo.
Now the hard part. How do you organize your photos? You can sort in chronological order — a timeline of your family history; by theme — for example, all your family Christmas photos; or sort by person — a particular family member. Use whatever method makes sense to you.
But here is the really hard part: deciding what to keep.
Sort your photos into three subcategories.
1. Discard pile. All the duplicates and multiple pictures of the same scene. (How many pictures of the garden do you really need?)
2. The top 10%: These are the photos you’d frame or put in an album. A special memory, a special place, or just a photo artistically well done.
3. Everything else: They are photos you don’t feel strongly about but don’t want to throw away either. Box them up, label them, and don’t give them another thought. Most likely, over time, as happens with many stored items, you’ll lose any real attachment to them.
You’ve finished the hard parts; now, how do you want to store them? There are several options.
1. Shoebox-size boxes for 4x6 photos and manila folders for larger pictures.
2. “Acid-Free” or “Archival Quality” photo albums of similar height that can fit nicely on a shelf.
3. Digitize your photos. You can use a high-quality printer to scan your “10%” photos. You can also use a smartphone app such as Google’s Photoscan, or use one of the many online companies that digitize photos for a price. For more hints, search for “Digitize Your Old Paper Photos to Preserve Your Family’s History” on the AARP website.
One advantage of digitized photos is that they are easier to share, including those embarrassing photos of your siblings — or yourself. Another is you can create one-of-a-kind photo products. Online companies such as Shutterfly, Snapfish, and Mixbook will use your digitized photos to create personalized gifts such as mugs, framed prints, T-shirts, and even jigsaw puzzles.
Organizing your decades-old photos can be as overwhelming as decluttering your house, but it is worth it. When I can no longer hold their hands, my children and grandchildren can look at all the photos and share personal stories of old friends, family, and Papa Scott.
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Brain Tease: Here are three riddles that I would call “groaners.” See what you think.
1. Why was the broom late?
2. What do race car drivers eat for breakfast?
3. What time does a duck get up?
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The radio personality with a unique and unforgettable radio style who hosted “News and Comment,” a Chicago-based program broadcast from 1951-2008, was Paul Harvey. I received correct answers from Tina Castanares, Mike McFarlane, Donna Mollet, Mike Nichols, Becky Podvent, Maria Kollas, Lana Tepfer, Dave Lutgens, Doug Nelson, Keith and Marlene Clymer, Jess Birge, Patty Munk, David Liberty, Stephen Woolpert, Nancy Higgins, and Craig Terry, who is this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.
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And last week, while reading Heloise’s hints on removing pesky stains, I missed Patricia Haupt, Kathy Smith, Rhonda Spies, Kathy Bullack, Tina Castanares, and Ron Nelson.
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Before Hardy Boys (1927) and Nancy Drew (1930), this series of 72 books published between 1904-1979, recounted the adventures of the children of an upper-middle-class family, For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the title of this children’s book series which included two sets of fraternal twins: Bert and Nan, and Flossie and Freddie? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-980-4645, or send it with The Corral Turtle Mystery by Laura Lee Hope.
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Well, it’s been another week, trying to make sense of it all. Until we meet again, enjoy the slower days and quieter nights.
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“Finally, I am coming to the conclusion that my highest ambition is to be what I already am.”
— Thomas Merton
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Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted.
Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) — Wednesdays with music on second and fourth Wednesdays; Mt. Hood Town Hall (541-308-5997) — Tuesdays; Hood River Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center (541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333).
For meal sites in Washington, call Klickitat County Senior Services: Goldendale office (509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068), and in Skamania County call Senior Services (509-427-3990).
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