Along the way, I learned that memories impart value.
My uncle bequeathed me the contents of his home. As I packed china and depression glass and debated shipping furniture, my brother held out an item.
Is this the M&Ms dish?
“Yes,” I said without hesitation. I remembered its place by my grandfather’s recliner and the forbiddeness of snitching a chocolate morsel.
My brother remembered the too-loud clank of the glass lid when he was naughtier or perhaps braver than me.
I carefully packed the M&Ms dish, and later cried when another tried to claim it.
Look what I found.
This time my brother held out Rook cards, the same vintage as my parents’ cards.
The colored numbers brought back images of my parents playing Rook with their friends. Once, I got in trouble for peeking over shoulders and announcing a player’s hand. I felt like an adult when I was old enough to play Rook with my siblings.
My brother happily packed the Rook cards.
What made two objects—costing less than $20 each—priceless? The memories.
I wonder which objects my boys will eventually claim. (See Their Memories, Not Yours Here.)
Do any objects invoke your childhood memories??
If you have something you would like to share with Mollie, please use the form below.