Sunday, April 8, 2012

Unopened Boxes












Why, when we move from one house to another, do we find ourselves with those few unopened boxes of worthy belongings?  The items seemed so worthy that, instead of tossing them or donating them to Goodwill, we packed them up to be used or displayed in the new house.  Yet, there they sit, in the garage...unopened, or perhaps looked through once and decided, "oh, those can wait for another time."  And there they sit.   And, guess what, you find those same boxes when you move again! 

There are containers I call "legacy boxes"---boxes filled with family history or items you placed there for safe keeping for future generations.  Little time capsules representing your history as you progress through life showing your achievements, accolades and documentation.  Some may see these as unnecessary Narcissistic collections, but I firmly believe that if these boxes weren't kept, family histories would be lost.  In my study of generational history I found there was a time period of nearly 100 years of silence.  Very few documents were kept between 1730 and 1830.  Why did my family stay in Iowa for so long?  Not until there was westward family movement did history show itself again and the family documentation was reinstated.    Do you keep those items you believe are important family history? Is it necessary to document for future generations?   That's a personal issue.

I feel a need to keep the pottery vase from 1838 given to a great-great-great Aunt by a great-great-great uncle on the birth of their twins.  That historical piece has lasted 174 years in the family.  Am I the one to toss it as junk when I move to my next house?  Or, do I give it to my daughter or brothers to keep the legacy alive?   I ask the same of those close to me to consider their own legacy and keep those items of personal history for future generations to cherish and further the documentation of the family.  What's a few cardboard boxes?

~Spence

Oh please, it's not family heirlooms that are tucked away in the final remaining boxes that need to be put away--it's old cards, CDs with half a cover, address books with old phone numbers, and empty photo frames.  Things I MEANT to do, and things I THINK I will do in the near future. 

Come on, of COURSE you keep family pieces.  It's the personal, somewhat new junk that is hard to figure out what to do with that still need to be unpacked.

--Kate



  

13 comments:

Eel River Ernie said...

A good friend of mine is taking the time to attach small cardboard tags with a brief history and significance of certain items of family historical value that he has in his possesion. I have many such items such as the 1850 era almalgamating spoon and a Chinese Tong sword that we found at our ranch in Weaverville and I intend to get a "round tooit" one of these days. But, having said that I also have the ticket stubs from Spring baseball my son and I attended together 6 years ago, a couple of beat up fishing lures that have teeth marks, over 100 baseball style hats that advertise or proclaim everything from the "Worlds Greatest Grandad" to "Leonardo's Shavings." Once I sell my drift boat I will have room in my garage for more in case you're interested Spence.

Kate said...

I emptied four boxes tonight...3/4 of the content went on several table tops...does that count?

Fred Mangels said...

I can't help but wonder if much of that stuff should be either thrown, or given, away?

Anonymous said...

viagra generique viagra achat
viagra precio donde comprar viagra
viagra viagra costo
viagra bestellen viagra 50mg

Anonymous said...

http://kaufencialisgenerika40mg.net/ cialis kaufen
http://achat-cialis-pascher.net/ cialis generique
http://acquistare-cialis-senzaricetta.net/ acquistare cialis
http://comprargenericocialisespana.net/ cialis generico

Anonymous said...

buy generic cialis generic cialis 20 mg cialis generique cialis acheter belgique cialis cialis precio cialis cialis sin receta

Anonymous said...

generic cialis online cheap generic cialis cialis achat achat cialis en france cialis cialis farmaco per impotenza cialis venta cialis

Anonymous said...

http://acheterviagragnerique1.net/ prix viagra
http://comprarviagragenerico1.net/ viagra
http://acquistareviagragenerico1.net/ acquistare viagra
http://kaufenvaigragenerika1.net/ preise viagra

Anonymous said...

http://acheterviagragnerique1.net/ viagra
http://comprarviagragenerico1.net/ comprar viagra
http://acquistareviagragenerico1.net/ viagra acquisto
http://kaufenvaigragenerika1.net/ bestellen viagra

Anonymous said...

http://buycheapcialisonline1.net/ buy cheap cialis
http://prixcialisgenerique1.net/ cialis commander
http://acquistocialisgenerico10mg.net/ acquisto cialis
http://comprarcialisgenericoes10mg.net/ cialis generico

Anonymous said...

viagra achat vente viagra acheter viagra viagra acheter viagra viagra precio viagra acquistare viagra comprare

Anonymous said...

cialis generique tadalafil
cialis prix generique cialis
cialis comprare cialis generico
cialis cialis

Anonymous said...

cialis cialis bayer en ligne
commander cialis cialis achat
cialis acquistare cialis
cialis cialis 10 mg precio