Posted on 06/06/2017 10:57:53 AM PDT by Drew68
Edited on 06/06/2017 2:11:09 PM PDT by Sidebar Moderator. [history]
bkmk
Not just kids.
I like polishing silver so a friend(baby boomer) gave me her family’s silver coffee service.
If I may be so bold...see my post #25. Get names, places, etc of the photos from your parents, if possible. You won’t regret it - will make a great family history, for later.
My sons are waiting for me to kick the bucket so they can raid the garage, shop and gun safes.
Shhhh, these rubes think this “junk” is worthless....
Exactly. I’m amazed what sells as “vintage” in these venues.
Many if not most have too much stuff that has no personal attachment. Having heirlooms that connect one to their ancestry is a way of appreciating and acknowledging earlier generations. Another kind of "stuff" I enjoy is quality furniture and lamps that are not mass-produced. I've gotten some incredible house furnishings that couldn't be reproduced today.
I get it when at a yard sale the "stuff" is gotten rid of, going to someone who can use it. But I don't get it that kids and grandkids don't want some things that were cherished through the generations.
When I cleaned out my attic I got rid of a whole bunch of crap, but I also found stuff I thought I had lost. When one of my sons saw me with my den full of boxes and stuff everywhere he said to me, “You like a hoarder.” I said to him, “Would you rather I let you go through all this after I die?” He said he didn’t. Then we both laughed.
I actually downloaded all of our 8 mm film from the 50’s through the 70’s onto an SD card. We have digitized photos too, all at her request.
My inlaws are moving. They have so much stuff/crap/junk/”treasures”. I am so glad the favorite sibling is my husband’s sister - she gets to deal with all the stuff/crap/junk and the rest of us get to laugh.
I am also glad we are the only ones who don’t live in the same town (we are about 1000 miles away), so not only can this stuff not be foisted onto me, I don’t have to help them pack it all up.
BUMP
When my grandmother died, my mother and her sisters fought over her Hummel collection so viciously that they never spoke again. When one sister died of cancer the others did not even know for years afterwards she was even sick. I don't know if one of my aunts is alive or dead right now.
At the time they figured my grandmother's collection to be worth high 5 if not 6 figures. Today however, I would be surprised if you could get a $1000 for them all and they sit unwanted boxed up in the grand children's attics. Such a waste.
My parents ended up clearing out their parents’ homes within two years of each other. They each have one sister and neither of the sisters wanted anything so my mom and dad were responsible for all of it. It was overwhelming and it seemed as though they felt that holding onto the possessions was a way of holding on to their parents.
Now it’s time for them to downsize-yikes!!
Last week I spent a couple of days scanning letters my mother wrote to her brand new husband (my dad) as he was serving in the Army in Italy during WW2. What a delightful trip I had getting to know my mother in a different light as she beautifully expressed her unbounded love for her man. She was a concert pianist in Boston and found a tall Texan with a great smile and personality and gave up her entire life of great culture and moved to west Texas in 1945. These letters proved the power of their love for each other — partners in life, rearing six children, and faithful to each other until their last breath.
But who will read them? Do the grandchildren care? I regret we have lost the art of communicating through personal letters too. It hurts to know that my grandchildren will be unable to read these letters since handwriting is no longer taught in school. I have preserved a beautiful piece of my heritage but perhaps for only my enjoyment in my waning years.
My sister gave my Mother’s solid cherry dining room table to her son. His wife painted it white.
Did this for my parents as well as a sister & brother. Going through their belongings was extremely painful. As a result I keep only what I need. Furniture went to Salvation Army, books, clothing, dishes etc went to Goodwill & local church drives. I vowed never to put my two grown children through that. If I don’t use it, I pass it on.
I’ll have to look at Bonanza.
Can’t blame the kids, who wants a Che Guevara poster, an Afro wig and a disco ball?
And don't get me started on the "moving supplies shrine" that takes up a corner of our basement in case the kids need packing material or boxes. Everybody has settled where they are going to be for a while and the shrine just sits.
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