Memories.....

**foxxyroxie** · 01-12-2008, 05:42 AM

For the last several months, BF and I have been getting ready to move. Seems like one thing after another, but we're getting really close. We're moving several states away so we really have to downsize, but we have gotten rid of a lot of things.

Most of the stuff in storage I thought I had gone through already, but when we went to empty the storage unit, I found out that I had missed a few boxes. Well in going through them, I had quite the adventure.

One of the boxes included a lot of old pictures from the 'olden' days -- when I was a kid -- not really 'olden' but I sometimes feel that old. Anyways, I found some stuff that my late mother had been given when her mom died. Mind you, grandma died in 1971 but my mother had kept this stuff all these years in the pictures box. I found some old pictures... pictures of my mom (as an infant -- maybe 6 months old) being held by her older sister. Both my mom and aunt are gone now. Mom would turn 72 at the end of this month so the picture is old.

Grandma, the gentle-souled pack rat that she was, kept every funeral memorial booklet (you know, the little one they give out at the funeral home giving the date of birth, date of death, time/place of funeral, etc) from what seems like every cousin and neighbor, not to mention family member. Some are dated back to the late 1950s.

There were also several thank cards from the deceased's family thanking for her for her sympathy card/gift/flowers. There were several newspaper like clippings of obituaries and of the fire that burned grandma and grandpa's house.

There was an invitation to a baby shower -- the one held for my mom when she was pregnant for me (dated 1964) and the thank you card from my mother that was sent to grandma for the baby shower gift. Those both went in my baby book that I found in the box... found it with my sister's baby book and the original hospital issued birth announcements (complete with foot prints and all). There were also a couple more birth announcements for my cousins who were born around the time my sister and I were born (mid 1960s).

I will say that I sorted through the stuff.... kept what pertained to my family or what I thought my cousin might want someday. I would say about 1/2 went in the garbage. Most of the names I didn't recognize.... if I did, I kept them, if I didn't they went in the garbage.

So I have packed what I kept away. Don't know why I'm keeping them, call me a pack rat too, but I just wasn't ready to part with them yet. It brought on too many memories I wasn't ready to part with.

Does anyone else have a story to share.....

Just a quick add-on..... I had a lot of fun looking at the postmarks on the letters and thank you notes. Almost want to make me scream when I look and see that a stamp was 10 cents!!

**frugalfarmwife** · 01-12-2008, 05:54 AM

I've become the family historian by default in my family, actually both of us have. One day in going through boxes I found newspaper articles of my father winning the fair with his pony Tiny, complete with a picture, I also have the origional picture, horses are in my blood

We have auction notices for my grandparents one farm, FFA ribbons for dad, old old OLD pictures of my families Drug Store (Grandpa and his brother opened it). Pictures of Grandpa and his brother Henry in their Hawiaan band

You name it.

We do have the room, and do love the memories and trips down history lane.

I plan on one day soon having copies made for my older brothers, hoping to just maybe put our family back together.

Funny isn't it, how much those little pieces of paper can mean to us?

kj

**Daisygirl** · 01-12-2008, 07:23 AM

I have been going through the basement, boxes that have not been opened for at least 5 years.

I came across a box of photos of when I was married. There were some wonderful pics of my girls when they were little (r) and happy looking pictures of me and my ex. I am making some copies of the happy family pics because I think it is important for the girls to see them.

Strangely we did look really happy. Gosh, maybe we should get back together......

NOT!

**frugalfarmwife** · 01-12-2008, 07:30 AM

Originally Posted by Daisygirl

I have been going through the basement, boxes that have not been opened for at least 5 years.

I came across a box of photos of when I was married. There were some wonderful pics of my girls when they were little (r) and happy looking pictures of me and my ex. I am making some copies of the happy family pics because I think it is important for the girls to see them.

Strangely we did look really happy. Gosh, maybe we should get back together......

NOT!

ROTFLMAO!!! I WAS JUST GETTING READY TO SMACK YOU BACK INTO YOUR SENSES WOMAN!!!! LOLOLOL!

Don't mess with me that way so early in the morning!

Seriously though, yes those pictures will be important to your girls, it's part of their history. Glad you had them put away!

kj

**karone** · 01-12-2008, 09:29 AM

i have a packet of pics of zack and when merrick is old enough i will give them to him so he knows who his father is. right now i really wish that zack hadnt thrown my stuff out b/c i used to have a photo album with the jobs for graduates initiation ceremony and that was the day i met jason, it also had one of the dried carnations jason gave me for valentines day the school was giving out for like a dollar. i still have the engagement ring zack gave me but i dunno what to do with it still.

**Jskell911** · 01-12-2008, 09:40 AM

I too am a pacrat! I go through it all here and there. I could not have NOT kept all that stuff! Sounds like a treasure trove to me.

**kaykwilts** · 01-12-2008, 09:45 AM

I have a hard time parting with memories too. Which state will you be moving to?

**Darlene** · 01-12-2008, 10:25 AM

I don't have alot of memories I can put my hands on but I often times go back in time with the smells of things. Was cutting an onion the other day & it reminded me of my parents and the subs Dad bought just for the 2 of them when he got out of work late at night on payday.
Never know when or where the sight or smell of something will evoke a memory...

Enjoy those pieces of the past OP.

**MarshHen** · 01-12-2008, 11:13 AM

I have several boxes with old letters and pictures that belonged to my grandmother too. I want to do a scrapbook with them one day. My grandmother was very good at journaling on the back of her pics, so I know who the people are. She saved every letter and card as well.