Among Friends

[Mom2Dogs]

I still have some of those emotional cards/notes...I will leave them for someone else to pitch.  They have been whittled down to a box and on occasion I do take a look.

I also like the look of those old cards, the pictures, design and color is so nice on those old cards.

[NYCLatinaMe]

---

@PinkyPetunia wrote:

I used to keep greeting cards when I was much younger, but after a move I wondered why I kept moving these things from place to place.  I tossed them and haven't missed them.  Same with old sentimental ashtrays, figurines and souvenirs.

My son took my 2 boxes of photos and I am glad.  I never looked at them.  

---

I like photos, but they don't take much space in my computer, so I scan old photos.  We can also take pictures of mementos and store those electronically and get rid of the clutter.

[TheWanderingOne]

When cleaning out our family home of 40+ years a few years ago, I found a box of letters that my Dad had written to my Mom when they were dating, and then newlyweds. They were all written when he was off on his annual Naval Reserve duty. I was hesistant to read them as it felt like I was intruding on a part of their life that was just between them. My oldest nephew took them, read them, and said they really tell a great story. Some very funny, like when Dad is describing the food on base or encountering snow on Lake Michigan in July (yep, it happened). Some sad, and some that he says shows how much they loved each other. He's in the proces of developing a book concept using their story. He's had 2 other books published and I have a feeling that this will be the most special of them all. 

[jackthebear]

---

@PinkyPetunia wrote:

I used to keep greeting cards when I was much younger, but after a move I wondered why I kept moving these things from place to place.  I tossed them and haven't missed them.  Same with old sentimental ashtrays, figurines and souvenirs.

My son took my 2 boxes of photos and I am glad.  I never looked at them.  

---

[Spacrazy]

---

@I am still oxox wrote:

As part of the cleanup from our renovation we are cleaning up spaces. I sorted through cards from my parents and grandparents to me as a child, cards given to me as an infant, cards given to my parents on their 25th anniversary. Sorting through the cards really touched my heart

---

You are not alone!  My daughter gets so upset with me about keeping so much but hard as I try I cannot get through my "keepsakes". Especially the photos ~ she has been a huge help in organizing and putting them into nice albums and memory keeper boxes. I sometimes breakdown when I touch a card I come across and can actually remember the moment and how it felt (example) when my grandmother placed it in my hand. It's magical...  Enjoy your memories and hold them near to you.

[vermint]

I know I'm in the minority...but I have maybe one teeny-tiny sentimental bone in my body, lol! DH & I quit giving each other cards years ago--we know how we feel about each other. Any cards we receive for birthdays/holidays are tossed as soon as the occasion is over. We disposed of our letters written while he was in college years ago--they were really quite repetitive, as neither of us were great about writing.

The few things I had of my mother's--her china & some depression glass--I gave to my niece a few years ago. I don't have anything of my dad's. I did, however, keep the key from their house...it's still on my keychain.

I have a ring that my MIL gave me, and we have the flag from FIL's coffin. That's it for their things.

We have one formal photo of each set of parents. It's displayed in my hallway in a double frame. Neither family was much into picture-taking.

[Witchy Woman]

@vermint 

I was relieved to read your post as I was beginning to feel odd knowing that I am much like you.

I have one or two things from my parents and, the house I live in was built by my husband.

That's enough for me.

[ByrdieK]

I have sorted through my parents pictures and my family pictures many times. I have gotten rid of many that were just scenery or of no significance to me. But I do have a "core" of pictures that would be the first thing I grabbed (after my cat) if I had to evacuate. I do have them backed up to digital...but I want the original copies. 

To others they may have no significance later, and they can rid them after I'm gone. But for now I love seeing them and the special memories they hold.

I am more attached to pictures than other mementos but I do have a few of those.  Not many, but a carefully curated selection. 

[riley1]

Here is what I did through the course of cleaning out parents house and all kinds of cards & things.

I'm not a "keeper" of things. My parents had very little in the way of keepsakes. I did help my sister clean out my mother's closet which was fine. However, I did ask my sister for my Mom's holiday plates (which was strictly sentimental) and a pot. 

Now, I could see if my sister was planning on having the holidays or cooking, but she did neither. I think she gave the dishes to my niece and threw the pot out. Then, most of the other stuff she kept - I think she became a hoarder.

So, now when I need a keepsake item, I just take a picture and I will always have it to look at.

Sorry this was long

[vermint]

---

@Witchy Woman wrote:

@vermint 

I was relieved to read your post as I was beginning to feel odd knowing that I am much like you.

I have one or two things from my parents and, the house I live in was built by my husband.

That's enough for me.

---

@Witchy Woman I'm glad to find another like me, too. We are maybe even more alike than you think...my husband built our house, also!