Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Thrown Away Memories

Many years ago we bought my parents house from them when they moved from here to live with my grandmother back in Alabama.  It had come to a time when my grandmother needed somebody to live with her, and so it was my parents that moved in with her.
This was also the same time that Zack and I were getting married so things really worked out for us.  We got a house at a bargain of a deal!  The downfall to all of this was the fact that my parents left most of all their furniture and belongings here.  As years passed they of course took things that meant a lot to them up there.  But as time passed we also were wanting our own furnishings, our stuff.  So, I started asking my mother and daddy, “do you want this and that?”.  I knew the answer would be no, since they had taken what they wanted by this time.  But, I still respected and ask anyways.
Looking back, I got rid of things that I wished that I wouldn’t have.  Bedroom furniture, serving platters, knick knacks, lamps, etc.  You name it and I probably got rid of it.  At the time I thought nothing personal of it, but now that my mother is gone, I wished that I could have those things.  Things that meant to me nothing at the time, have meaning to them now. 
Thinking about certain items, my heart actually aches now that they are gone. 
I know that I will always have the memories, but it would also be nice to touch something that holds something so near and dear to my heart.

8 comments:

Kelli said...

Come on over, I left you an award at my place.

Darlene said...

Oh I understand perfectly. At the time it was probably just old "junk" to you. At least you probably still have many memories through pictures.

Sherri said...

You may remember when you were wanting to get rid of all that stuff I advised you on not doing it because one day,they would be gone and you would want those things then..now that those materials possessions are gone and you have no way of getting them back,please just think of the memories that you have.It may not be exactly what you want but at this point,it's all you have.I wouldn't put too much time into feeling guilty about the things(and Trella wouldn't want you to either).I know what you mean about being able to touch something instead of just having the memories but memories are also a great thing to have...they don't break like the serving platters,knick knacks etc may. I had my granny's jadeite green mixing bowl that I loved dearly (and thankfuly,I do have alot more of her stuff as well)but guess what happened to the mixing bowl...Josh accidentally dropped something on it and BROKE IT! I,myself,have also broken a coffee cup of hers and that broke my heart but even with those things being broken and gone forever,the memories of the use of those items are complete in my mind.Please think of things that way:)

Wendy @ Ramblings from the Sunshine State said...

I know exactly how you feel. My mom passed away when I was 21, Im 26 now. She lived about 2 hours from me, but I would have dropped everything and went when it was time. Instead, my aunt went through my mom's entire house, and had a garage sale. She saved me a small plastic tote of stuff, but nowhere near what all I would have taken. I only had one chance beforehand to really take things, and I didnt take much because I figured we had time. I would kill to have some of that stuff back, but I try and remind myself they are just things, and I still have the memories.

Georgia Girl said...

Joanna...I know exactly how you feel...I have things that were my grandparents that my parents have given me over the years and cherish those things...now my parents are up in the age and have given me things...little things that don't mean anything to anyone but me. I think also we don't realize till we get older and have kids and think of things we want to give our children to have memories of. Great post!

Donna Lynn said...

I know what you mean! When my Grandpa and Grandma died, one of my cousins gave everythig away to the Goodwill, it broke my heart that I couldn't have some of the things that linked my heart to theirs. I just keep remembering what my Mom said to me, "We can't take it with us when we leave this earth, and what we can take is the love and memories!".

Blessings on you and Happy Spring,
Donna Lynn

Kelli said...

Question...if I a blog like this: http://twoofakindworkingonafullhouse.blogspot.com/ with three columns and white with the background, how much is that? I'm really getting the itch and I think I just need to do it and I want to go through you.

My Beautiful Mess! said...

I so know what you mean...find myself thinking about that so much. I love the things of my Mom's that I do have - but there are a couple of things I wish I had taken...now they are gone.