Time to empty out the possessions of a lifetime.
My brothers found many treasures of their childhood.
Fishing rods, guns, tools, nuts and bolts of an electrician's trade.
I found several treasures in my Dad's little shed.
Things you would not expect to find. Memories of a
time past forever. I cannot quite explain how bittersweet
it is to go through someone's stuff and take what you want
and have to leave some. You feel like taking every little thing
he ever touched. As if that will bring him back. I found some
surprising things that he had kept for 40-plus years. Items of
no consequence to anyone but him...and me. Old business cards with
old phone numbers where he had worked when I was a baby.
I touch these things and remember him. It brings tears to me
right now but it will bring mostly pleasure in the future as I
look at these tiny pieces of my Dad and remember his life.
We sold his house. He loved the outdoors. I took a few rocks
and petrified wood and cactuses that were in his flower bed.
His cat was there. Waiting for him.
He lived in Texas.
Here he is doing a crossword puzzle.
These are my memories that I took. The little table was
He lived in Texas.
Here he is doing a crossword puzzle.
These are my memories that I took. The little table was
from his bedroom. The water can from his shed.
The big safety pin for his army duffle bag that he had in
Germany. I remember playing with it as a child. Why did
he save it? The wooden ruler, broken. These are things
I wanted. I played with it too. The business card of the
Continental Baking Company that he worked for when
we kids were little. He had a little notebook full of little
old cards he kept. Why? I mean this was after moving
several times in his life. This last move was only for two
years.
We sold his pickup a few months ago. A friend who is a
car dealer went to the auction to pick it up for us and
sell it. All emotional stuff.
Still I have a lifetime of memories of him. I got a couple
of his western, snap-front shirts, a couple of his books, (he
loved to read) his boot-jack, and one of his hats. Simple,
ordinary things. I'm happy to have them.
11 comments:
"I cannot quite explain how bittersweet it is to go through someone's stuff and take what you want and have to leave some." You don't have to explain it to me, I've experienced it. It's funny the things you keep.
I've had the bag mum took to hospital for the last time, hidden in the back of a closet for nearly ten years. I still can't bring myself to open it.
PS. That was me who deleted the previous comment, there was a typo that was so bad it rendered the comment incoherent.
I completely understand how hard it is and how bittersweet. I too have a few things of my fathers that I am going to post about soon. The simple things are what he loved just like your father. In fact it seems you could have been writing about my father who kept all kinds of little things that others may wonder why. I love his watering can.
I had to clean out my daughters house when she passed away almost two years ago and I have many many things of hers that were special to her. I am saving them for her daughters but I somehow feel closer to her by having them in my home.
WT and egghead:
You of course understand exactly. Just a strange mixture of emotions and small things that tie you to that loved one. I have always loved looking at little things that Daddy had. He had a broken key ring with a little fish in a bubble that floated up and down and he gave that to me years ago, I look at it all the time. It keeps me close.
I'm glad that you got to keep a few things. I have little things like that from relatives who have died and they are very special.
Thanks also for the blog link - it looks like they are having a great time so far!
I love the special things you chose to keep - your special bond with your dad. What wonderful memories!
OH MY...my Papaw used to have a ruler like that and I always liked to watch him measure things with it...we were a family of all girls with one boy and that boy claimed all of that kind of stuff...I wish I had it...sigh!!
(((hugs))) to you today!♥
Those small things have no monetary value, but are priceless in memories. I still have a fleece shirt that my mom wore all the time in the winter. It is more precious to me, more than anything else of hers that I have.
Simple, ordinary things are the best things in my books. It reminds me how down to earth the person was. I understand it's a hard time. Believe me, I understand.
That's right when you have loved somebody and have to get through all his belongings that must be very hard. I didn't have that problem, when my father died, I was happy to get rid of the past !
I fall somewhere between you and Gattina. When my dad died, no one in my family let me know. I did not find out until 2 years later.
I am so glad that you and your brothers got to take what y'all wanted.
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