#SOL16-22/31 - The Things I Carry

SOL16 #22/31 - 

      I'm slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community for Day Twenty-Two of Thirty-One of the Slice of Life Challenge in March.  Thank you Stacey, Tara, Anna, Betsy, Dana, Kathleen, Beth, and Deb.  

      As I move around my house, I notice the "things" I have. I've been here three years now, after cleaning out,  having a big sale, and finding a wonderful new place for me. It was closer to my husband who was living in a nursing home by then, closer to my daughter and family. I'm in the city now, and close to museums and lovely little shops that I like. While my home is smaller, I still kept some "things", what I wanted to keep, to help make a new home. I did downsize, but still have plenty of room for family to stay! And plenty of room for bookshelves and books, of course.
       I'm sure you know that a "but" is coming. Much can be given, sold or thrown away, BUT what about those things that connect with my past? Will certain memories disappear? Will someone else make new memories with these objects? I suspect that this is what my grandparents, and then parents wondered as well.  My children are wonderful, but, as my husband and I did, too, they can only keep so much. I walked around the house and took a few pictures of important things, memories. I bet you have some, too.

A grandfather's little man, given to me when I went to college.

A woven heart made for me by my daughter when she was a little girl.

From my son, the mother's pins
that moms receive as their
sons move through Scouting.
My grandson will soon receive
his Eagle award, too.

A piece of pottery, a prize winner at a show, given to me by
my husband on our 25th anniversary.

A special turtle from my grandson, who began to love them
on one of our ocean trips together.

Heart rocks collected by my granddaughter, brought to me
from one of her special trips.

A desk crafted by a great uncle of my husband, a master carpenter.

A purple cow creamer that lived on a grandmother's dresser
when I was growing up, now on mine.

A favorite painting by my mother who was an artist.

A pot created in school made by my son, Nathan.

My daughter's painting of her favorite
creature, The Horse With The Goofy Grin.

I have a small collection of birds, and my daughter-in-law
gave me this one that belonged to her own grandmother.

My brother created a pair of bookends for me, and Steinbeck's
 Travels With Charley, a surprise gift from my husband, knowing
how much I loved it.

A grandmother's childhood rocker, perhaps about
112 years old now. My children were too old when
I received it, but my grandchildren rock in it now.