title: Deleting object in function
body: <p>Let's say I have created two objects from class <code>foo</code> and now want to combine the two. How, if at all possible, can I accomplish that within a function like this:</p>
  
  <pre><code>def combine(first, second):
      first.value += second.value
      del second #this doesn't work, though first.value *does* get changed
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>instead of doing something like</p>
  
  <pre><code>def combine(first, second):
      first.value += second.value
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>in the function and putting <code>del second</code> immediately after the function call?</p>