The treasures are all in my mind's eye. Although I have found lovely pieces of pink or green depression glass; cut crystal ( not one of my favorites, but Mom always loved it); hammered aluminum trays ( a big 1940's gift item); and old Japanese tea sets; and numerous other "chatchkes", I doubt that the people from Antiques Roadshow will be planning to call any time soon. Most of the things I have found have meaning to ME! -- only because they belonged to Mom and Dad; or either of the sets of grandparents. How to part with these things is beyond me. I find myself agonizing over the process of throwing away or giving away part of my childhood memories. The question is why the pain in giving this stuff away?
I believe that having a good memory can be a curse sometimes. I actually can remember when Mom and Dad or Grandma and Grandpa got some of these things or I can at least remember seeing them in my grandparent's homes when I was a child. So, each item is steeped in warm memories of the people who owned them. The old pictures are emblazened in my mind as times of my life, and remind me of the rapid passage of time that takes its toll all too soon. The question is how soon before my life and possessions are deemed past their expiration date? How soon before my children walk down memory lane and then toss away a life's collection of acquired memorabilia? The sadness and guilt are giving way to the realization that nothing and no one lasts forever--each generation needs to pass the torch and give way to the new--not without a fight, not without love, not without respect--but with acceptance of the world as it needs to be.
