Yesterday my husband cleared out a small room we’ve been using for storage – we’ve decided to turn it into a mini-fitness room. The treadmill and exercise bike fit in there perfectly, and we’ll mount a couple of those portable DVD players to the wall so that we can watch movies while we exercise (or in my husband’s case, cooking videos).
Or at least, that’s the plan.
Sadly, he discovered that mice had gotten into two of the cardboard boxes we had stored inside this room. They had ingeniously built nests in these boxes, using pages from the books the boxes contained.
I have this thing about mice. I really dislike them, and no, I don’t care how cute they are. We live in an older house, and with all the ongoing renovations, it’s been tough keeping the mouse problem under control. We have sonic repellers everywhere, and while they work well, there are still some spaces they can get into (and out of).
So when my husband told me about this particular invasion, and asked me what I wanted to do with the books, I said, “Put them out for recycling.”
This morning, before the boxes went out, I took a quick peek in the top box – and realized with a sinking heart that it contained some books I love, including Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird. It was too quick a look to determine if any of the books were salvageable.
I thought to myself … maybe I should go through the boxes and see.
On the one hand, it wasn’t really something I wanted to do. On the other hand, I couldn’t bear the thought of those books being recycled without my first checking to see if I could save any of them.
But I forgot to tell my husband, who is a doer. He was in true doing mode all day today. Just now, I suddenly remembered those boxes of books.
Turned out, he put them out on the curb, since our recycling pick-up is early in the morning tomorrow. And he left the lid off the boxes, so the guys would know the books are to be recycled.
And it’s been pouring rain.
I’ve decided this is an opportunity for me to practice letting go. Still, I did pop out quickly to see whether the rain had further damaged the books, and whether I could salvage anything.
Yes, it had. And yes, I did manage to save one book – the first Harry Potter, a hardcover version.. It was only slightly damp and relatively un-mouse-damaged. Knowing what it’s been through, I’m not sure if I will ever pick it up to re-read it, but at least now I have the choice, right?
Bird by Bird was beyond salvaging. But really, all is well. I remember now that I have TWO copies of this wonderful book.
As for the rest, yes, I’m letting them go. It’s tough, but mouse droppings and rain certainly helps me make this particular decision.
Photo credit: Flickr
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Man, that whole situation would just break my heart. You’re a lot stronger than I am!
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Bummer!! How sad.
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I’m always afraid of “stuff” (mildew, mouse germs!) spreading from one book to another on my shelf. Probably irrational; but I think you made the right choice (and your husband and the rain helped!). Maybe you can put Harry Potter outside on a sunny day, to make sure all the dampness dries out.
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That is a good idea, airing out the Harry Potter on a sunny day.
I can’t decide whether it’s a good thing or not that I don’t really have a clue what books were in the boxes, other than the ones I saw in the top layer!