Thanks, Paul! I am one in a long line of “keepers” who ended up with all the family things others knew were important to keep but didn’t want to keep themselves 😉
Well written! Four sets of China…..yes….i think I have 2 of my mom’s, one of her aunt’s, two of my own and a partial Christmas set. Fourth generation in the same house. How hard to divide up all my mom had preserved. She’s been gone 4 years and still things remain at my house. Hard. Rewarding. Puzzling. Writing the story might help as I’m the eldest now.
Hi, Mary! I love that you have those sets from family and hope you use the heck out of them!
I absolute recommend writing it down, for yourself, to maybe provide some clarity, but also for the next generation. I think about that a lot. Some of what I inherited from Grandma surely came from her mother and womenfolk of the family. What did that inheritance process look like? Was there reluctance, excitement, bickering, resignation? Maybe in writing down our inheritance stories, we can make the act itself easier for those who follow us…good food for thought. Thanks!
Oh gosh, Lori. This is beautiful 🥹. I'm currently distributing my mother's collection of artifacts to my sister and brother as we conclude her estate after her passing in 2022. Thankfully, everything has been very amicable. I'm touched by how different her artifacts were from those of other families.
The differences relate directly to our childhoods. As you know, we grew up primarily overseas. That meant that cousins received the historical artifacts while we passed down the many art pieces and antiques she collected in Latin America, Asia, and Europe. It was a different experience, but so was our childhood.
I'm deeply indebted to my cousins, who have graciously shared pieces of silver and even a desk that was my grandmother's. My genealogist grandmother and photographer grandfather left me an extraordinary collection of photographs. I've tried to make myself worthy of these by carefully scanning and archiving them. I suppose they fuel the genealogical work I continue to pursue with my extended family.
A) you are MORE than worthy of your heritage and history.
B) I find it fascinating how differently family members approach artifacts. When we were distributing my mom’s things, some family members were cooly practical -I already have a lamp so I don’t need that antique lamp which was on the desk for my entire life and which has been in the family for generations. Then there was me who sobbed when I found Grandmas knitting basket with a set of half-done mittens that had been sitting in a cold musty garage for 17 years lol
C)I’m glad yours has been pleasant. We haven’t always been. That said, in the years since, most items have found their way home.
What a wonderful collection of family heirlooms you have collected Lori #GenStackCoterie
Thanks, Paul! I am one in a long line of “keepers” who ended up with all the family things others knew were important to keep but didn’t want to keep themselves 😉
Well written! Four sets of China…..yes….i think I have 2 of my mom’s, one of her aunt’s, two of my own and a partial Christmas set. Fourth generation in the same house. How hard to divide up all my mom had preserved. She’s been gone 4 years and still things remain at my house. Hard. Rewarding. Puzzling. Writing the story might help as I’m the eldest now.
Hi, Mary! I love that you have those sets from family and hope you use the heck out of them!
I absolute recommend writing it down, for yourself, to maybe provide some clarity, but also for the next generation. I think about that a lot. Some of what I inherited from Grandma surely came from her mother and womenfolk of the family. What did that inheritance process look like? Was there reluctance, excitement, bickering, resignation? Maybe in writing down our inheritance stories, we can make the act itself easier for those who follow us…good food for thought. Thanks!
Oh gosh, Lori. This is beautiful 🥹. I'm currently distributing my mother's collection of artifacts to my sister and brother as we conclude her estate after her passing in 2022. Thankfully, everything has been very amicable. I'm touched by how different her artifacts were from those of other families.
The differences relate directly to our childhoods. As you know, we grew up primarily overseas. That meant that cousins received the historical artifacts while we passed down the many art pieces and antiques she collected in Latin America, Asia, and Europe. It was a different experience, but so was our childhood.
I'm deeply indebted to my cousins, who have graciously shared pieces of silver and even a desk that was my grandmother's. My genealogist grandmother and photographer grandfather left me an extraordinary collection of photographs. I've tried to make myself worthy of these by carefully scanning and archiving them. I suppose they fuel the genealogical work I continue to pursue with my extended family.
A) you are MORE than worthy of your heritage and history.
B) I find it fascinating how differently family members approach artifacts. When we were distributing my mom’s things, some family members were cooly practical -I already have a lamp so I don’t need that antique lamp which was on the desk for my entire life and which has been in the family for generations. Then there was me who sobbed when I found Grandmas knitting basket with a set of half-done mittens that had been sitting in a cold musty garage for 17 years lol
C)I’m glad yours has been pleasant. We haven’t always been. That said, in the years since, most items have found their way home.
D) thanks for your kind words 😉