Awesome and surprisingly (to me) relatable. I hear an internal conflict like the one I had doing a NYT feature on Celebrity Rehab years ago: a belief in both the disease and treatment modality (plus a hopeful theory that televised therapy might even help in this case) versus a baseline revulsion at the conditions that bred the illness and reality TV in general. But still: hoarding is so fascinating, awful, and probably under-reported that I'll *still* rationalize/justify this show by saying it brings attention, shines a spotlight, etc. It's such a heartbreaking disease.
This piece really hits home. I was married to someone who was a hoarder, but the hoarding got worse after the marriage ended. A woman who was once vibrant, outgoing, and full of ambition is now a recluse struggling mightily with alcohol abuse. Reminds me of Nicholas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas, only with cats and clutter. I don’t mean to be flippant or insensitive— it pains me. It’s like watching someone slowly commit suicide.
I’ve always felt the failed marriage accelerated the downhill spiral, and I suppose I’ll always feel at least a little responsible.
Funny, I read you mostly for the humor, the uniquely wonderful way you have with words. Sometimes I read you just to learn about what’s going on in the world beyond my rather cloistered existence. I’ve never watched any of those hoarding shows, but tonight I learned more about the condition than I have in the last 25 years. Thanks for writing this, Cintra.
I could never watch one of these programs. Thanks for sorting this out for me. 😉
“You gotta have shoes,” explained one hoarder. “Just like you gotta have a wig to go with it.” (Cut to: wall of enough wigs to make a mastodon, next to a crying, distraught daughter, asking the hoarder, “Does your junk mean more to you than I do?”.) 💙
Just moved after 20+ yrs. in 1 place and ashamed at how little I could bear to toss. So long as drinking and "collecting" doesn't include unsanitary stacks or vermin I'm not reeally a hoarder, right?
I too learned so much from this piece, Cintra. I have a real fear and loathing of hoarding and I understand more about it now. Thank you! Your use of language in this was particularly good--so expressive, so many well-articulated insights. After listening, I found myself wanting to point to a chair, or any nearby item, and say, "Please explain this to me!" I feel like you could help me understand the symbolism, meaning and truth of anything in our society.
Awesome and surprisingly (to me) relatable. I hear an internal conflict like the one I had doing a NYT feature on Celebrity Rehab years ago: a belief in both the disease and treatment modality (plus a hopeful theory that televised therapy might even help in this case) versus a baseline revulsion at the conditions that bred the illness and reality TV in general. But still: hoarding is so fascinating, awful, and probably under-reported that I'll *still* rationalize/justify this show by saying it brings attention, shines a spotlight, etc. It's such a heartbreaking disease.
You are amazingly hilarious
This piece really hits home. I was married to someone who was a hoarder, but the hoarding got worse after the marriage ended. A woman who was once vibrant, outgoing, and full of ambition is now a recluse struggling mightily with alcohol abuse. Reminds me of Nicholas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas, only with cats and clutter. I don’t mean to be flippant or insensitive— it pains me. It’s like watching someone slowly commit suicide.
I’ve always felt the failed marriage accelerated the downhill spiral, and I suppose I’ll always feel at least a little responsible.
Funny, I read you mostly for the humor, the uniquely wonderful way you have with words. Sometimes I read you just to learn about what’s going on in the world beyond my rather cloistered existence. I’ve never watched any of those hoarding shows, but tonight I learned more about the condition than I have in the last 25 years. Thanks for writing this, Cintra.
The world is a better place every time you post something new.
I could never watch one of these programs. Thanks for sorting this out for me. 😉
“You gotta have shoes,” explained one hoarder. “Just like you gotta have a wig to go with it.” (Cut to: wall of enough wigs to make a mastodon, next to a crying, distraught daughter, asking the hoarder, “Does your junk mean more to you than I do?”.) 💙
Just moved after 20+ yrs. in 1 place and ashamed at how little I could bear to toss. So long as drinking and "collecting" doesn't include unsanitary stacks or vermin I'm not reeally a hoarder, right?
I too learned so much from this piece, Cintra. I have a real fear and loathing of hoarding and I understand more about it now. Thank you! Your use of language in this was particularly good--so expressive, so many well-articulated insights. After listening, I found myself wanting to point to a chair, or any nearby item, and say, "Please explain this to me!" I feel like you could help me understand the symbolism, meaning and truth of anything in our society.
This makes my poitrine hurt so good. Ass, laughed off. Heart, raw hamburger.