Awesome read.
Just cleaned out my sisters-in-law’s place. 90% of her stuff went into dumpster. Her “treasures” were NOT treasures accept to her. That’s the way it is most times.
My mother will be 89. In a nursing home since my father died. Owned 2 homes, all full of furniture etc., and a couple cars. Her earthly possessions NOW could fit in a small suitcase.
My mom died a few years ago at 95. Over the years she would give her “treasures” to the kids and grandkids as extra presents. And always told and wrote down the story behind each one of them. That helped a lot rather than “Jeez - here’s ANOTHER cup and saucer - and it don’t match anything else!!??”
Those cups and saucers were gifts to my mom from my dad after he would go out on a hunting or fishing trip! He would always get her a set to sort of make up for being away. Not that mom minded - but it was a nice thought. We got most of them!
Going through the photo albums there was a picture of mom and my dad’s father and some other older guys. Out by a campfire with a pot of coffee on. “Oh - that was opening day of fishing. Your dad was in the war by then, so I took his place to go up fishing! I didn’t go the rest of the years while he was gone!!”
I have a list of mother’s treasures with the original owners and history of each with the intention of one day reuniting them. Unfortunately, she’s a witch and will likely leave everything to the state so all the history will be lost.