One of the biggest tasks that faced me after losing Mom was trying to go through the house and get it ready to be sold. This is a large house with lots of places to hide things. Both of my parents were pack rats. Mom and Dad were depression kids and as a result they both horded lots of things. My Mom especially was always cutting out coupons and stocking up on things that were on sale. Going through the house is like going on a treasure hunt. I never know what I am going to find next.
Mom and Dad both kept letters. I found the first letter my Dad ever wrote to my Mom. I had no idea that she had kept that letter through all the years and all the moves. I discovered Dad’s trunk and in it were all the letters that my Mom had written to him during World War II. I found cards that I sent to them over thirty years ago. I found the sentimental cards that they sent to each other. Those cards and letters are being saved in special scrapbooks for their only grandchild and her three children to see.
The other day I found the favors and napkins and gifts from a surprise thirty-fifth wedding anniversary party that I threw for them. The thirty-fifth anniversary is coral and jade. Looking at those favors that I made so long ago brought tears to my eyes. I remember so well the planning and trying to keep everything a secret. My Dad knew me well enough to figure out what I was up to but he kept it from Mom so that it wouldn’t ruin the surprise for her.
I am finding a lot of the metric things that my Dad had from when he was chairman of the metric committee in California. Those and other scientific and math related things will go to two of his great grandchildren who have inherited his mathematical and scientific abilities. I found some very good scientific calculators that they will be able to use in school.
I still have a lot to go through and I’m sure that I will discover more treasures. I am glad that both my parents were sentimental and kept so many things from their lives. It will make it easier for me to tell their three great grandchildren about them. I can show them some of the things they loved and explain why these things meant so much to them. I can share their treasures with a new generation and keep their memories alive for a long, long time.