For anyone that has the pleasure of knowing Pete, you are probably well aware that he is a minimalist. I on the other hand, being both a Paredes and a Sheppard love my things. This is something that I struggle with. I am comforted and happy with all my "stuff". Pete is not and in an attempt to make him comfortable I sometimes have to purge a few boxes of things. Moving brought out the worst of this struggle. I am proud to say that I did manage to fill a couple of car loads of stuff to donate and Pete kept the snarky comments to a minimum. Seeing as we are staying with his parents, there wasn't much to unpack when we arrived. Finally being somewhat settled is nice and it is fun to watch Pete and his Dad navigate their days. I can imagine what Pete will be like at his Dads age and also what his Dad was maybe a little like, trying to take care of a large family. They both have to be busy,busy,busy. I can't wait for the day when Pete constructs a ladder from 4 kitchen stools and a milk crate to work on the roof, a la John this morning. Something else I am really enjoying is my time with Sharron. I love family history and keep little stories written down for when the kids are older. It is nice to add some Lindgren stories so that I can feel knowledgeable in both areas. Over the weekend, when I was explaining the drama of my pack rat tendencies we talked about the meaning behind certain family things and why they are so important to each of us. This is a huge subject in family. My mom is a collector and has so many really great things. People are often amazed at how many interesting things she has and more than once I have heard the word"museum". But it isn't sterile or fragile. Just her precious things that she enjoys and takes care of. The kids have their names on certain things already, at Grandmas prompting. Just like we had with our Grandma. I am curious how others way in on this? Do you have special family "items"? What is special to you? Here's mine....
#1. When my Mom came before I left she gave me a bust of the Sacred Heart. He was always my Grandmas favorite and I think he is beautiful. I am still a little overwhelmed that she gave him to me and he traveled with me on the front seat of the car. I will always cherish him.
#2. All my babies pictures and artwork. I don't know which is more special to me. Pictures are obviously great to have,but I especially LOVE the artwork. I cannot discriminate and so I end up with ALL the drawings. I have files and files of them.
#3. My suitcase of Sheppard/Paredes memorabilia. This has expanded into two suitcases. All my newspaper clippings,photos, old school records, old art projects, notes my parents wrote, notes my grandparents wrote, various cards with envelopes addressing me as Chowhound,Chubette,Porkchop and various other "endearments".
#4. An old notebook that my Grandmother wrote the stations of the cross in. She wrote out the prayer for each and every station in Spanish and I just miss her handwriting.
#5. All my cards from my Grandma, Mom and Pete. Besides the kids, my three most special people and I save and reread all my cards from them.
I really am working on the pictures. I think I have a solution and if so will post a bunch tomorrow. Please don't fail me on the list. Especially when I have to drive all the way to the library to post it. Enough guilt? I hope so.
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As I thought about all of my treasures I just felt it necessary to thank Mom for taking such good care of everything so that it was there to pass down to us, and the grandkids. And someday Dad will pass down his collection of vinyl and cool t-shirts.
1. A silver and onyx ring my dad gave my mom when they were 15 or 16. I had wanted it ever since one night at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk when my ten cent fortune said that onyx was my lucky stone. My mom had worn it for so long that the flowers on the sides of the stone were almost completely worn away.
2. A silver and turquoise ring of my grandmothers. It was one she always wore and I absolutely treasure it.
3. A beautiful square cake stand that my grandpa bought for my grandma Jane at Woolworths. She died before I was born, and it's one of the few things I have of hers. It is meaningful to me for several personal reasons, but one of the really special things about it is what my grandfather said when he gave it to me.
4. Godzilla. He's about a foot and a half tall, and we've had him as long as I can remember. One of his arms shoots out from the elbow, and one of the Caird boys did it into the front yard and we didn't find his arm for years. My mom always dressed him up for all the holidays, and now I do too.
5. A painting that Bella, Sharons mom, did. It says "Think joy, speak love, fly free!". Sharon let me have it as a housewarming gift, it's something that I've always admired. Aside from the message, I love that it came from her mom, who passed before Sharon came into our lives. I was really honored that she let me have it, it hangs in the most prominent spot in our house, the kitchen.
1. A pair of silver chicken earrings that mom bought me when right before I had Georgie. She came after grandma left and it was hard on me knowing she wouldn't get to hold her, chickens are part of my bond with her and mom got them at my favorite store.
2. I have two notebooks that grandma wrote down all her numbers and random notes. I love her random notes like "Cathy likes dark chocolate sees candy". Same as you I really miss her writing.
3. Nana (George's mom) gave me her bible before she passed away. She kept everyone's social security # in the back and lots of little momentos in between the pages.
4. Merman wrote all of us letters when he went to Guam, the kids are sealed and not to be open until they are 18 years old. I have a little box I keep them in along with the postcards and the letter he sent me.
5. My valentine letters from dad gowing up. I love to read these because he really wrote from his heart.
My goodness, what beautiful sentiments. I am so very proud of my girls and that they hold dear their love of family and precious memories. Treasures to me hold their own heartbeat. I can feel the comfort and warmth of the giver's gift.
1. Most definitely, my icons. Many that were Mama's from her family. I feel so comforted surrounded by them. I particularly remember when I was about 6 or 7. A Mexican gentleman was at the front gate, holding pictures of the Sacred Heart and the Sacred Heart of Mary. Plus, St. Theresa, St. Martha and several others, in beautiful rustic carved frames. My mother bought 4 of them. She gave one to Aunt Ruth and when she passed, my cousin gifted it to me.
2. My jewelry. Luisa bought me a beautiful silver cross that I wear every day. It depicts the Ressurection and I get compliments on it always.
3. Alex and David's wedding album. It holds such beautiful pictures of OUR FAMILY. It is such a precious gift.
4. My Mother's scrapbook. It is so awesome. Pages and pages of greeting cards from my father and relatives. Her sisters always sent this hilarious cards. And my Mother on many of them, wrote her sentiments under the card.
5. A silver bracelet that Matilda gave me. It has a pair of scotty dogs on it and has Mother etched on the side. To me it is fragile and precious.
My mom and I often talk after the list and lament the fact that we forgot so many other things to add. I want to add that I have my Dads wedding ring and wore it for years. When Pete and I first went on a trip when we were dating he tried it on and it wouldn't come off. He joked that now we would have to get married, so we did and he has worn it under his wedding band ever since.
Alex- As I read about Godzilla, I could not help but think how treasured he is and perhaps the one thing I am truly envious of not having. All the kids love him and Siobhan once asked why I didn't take him first. As I left the library to head to the thrift store, all I could think was, "I wonder if I'll ever find one of those someday." Withing an hour of that thought a 1977 original Godzilla came rolling out of the doors, standing atop the cart. Not the original Sheppard Godzilla, but I hope someday my kids will love this one as much as we loved Moms. And yes,I am one lucky son of a bitch.
1. A couple of my father's homemade items. One is a shoeshine kit. The bottom is a box that holds polish and brushes and the handle is a cutout of a shoe that you rest your foot on to polish your shoes. The second is a knick-knack shelf he made. Both of these have been around forever.
2. The old family furniture. These are things I grew up with. Scratches, stains, kids names or initials, I love it all.
3. Anything from my kids and grandkids. Alex is so good at picking cards, she always finds just the right one. Luisa wrote me a letter when she moved to Seattle that I will always treasure. Mattie sent me funny stuff she found in various places when she moved to Salt Lake. I have cartoons the grandkids have drawn, bookmarks they made,an awesome mustache photo montage. Too many things to list and they are all precious. Sorry Pete but these all get packed and make the moves. Nothing can brighten a bad day like pulling out a box of treasures!
4. My turntable and records. I will probably be buried with these!
5. A tape Sharon made for me when we first met. Mariah Carey and Prince on one side but then on the other side Rod McKuen's "The Sea" one of my all time favorites and something I was sure no one else had ever listened to. True love.
Last of all, My Family. Something to be treasured, fought for, fought with, loved and never to be taken for granted, discared or forgotten! I love you ALL!
1. My grandma's engagement ring. She gave it to me for my 15th birthday, and I will pass it down to Meaghan. I have always felt receiving this ring was an incredible honor. it is so beautiful.
2. My dad's love beads. I absolutely love these. I just love the connection to my dad's past that these hold. I know I will pass these down to Samantha.
3. My grandma gave me a very old stamp, and a newspaper from Duluth that was announcing that WWII was over. I have a great love for history, so I treasure these.
4. My grandpa gave me very old books, civil war era, and I am just amazed by them every time I look at them. What I enjoy the most is wondering who owned these and looked through the pages over the past century plus.
5. All of my photographs. I have some from my Grandma Hoffman, my Grandpa Shannon, and many other family members. I love the timeline and family history represented in the collection. And I love that I will continue to add to it and be able one day to pass the memories on to so many others.
1. From my dad's side--My grandmothers cedar chest and my great-grandparents dining table.
2. From my mom's side--My grandmothers wedding ring and grandpa's WWII photo album (which I was given to restore, but haven't returned yet).
3. My kids art work and school papers. It is piling up real fast but I don't have the heart to throw any of it away.
4. Welded metal yard art, hand crafted by my 87 year old grandfather, constructed out of junk metal. He doesn't know sunday from friday or a pain pill from a sleeping pill, but he is still brilliant when it comes to creating something out of junk.
5. My own childhood school work. From preschool to college. My mom is one who keeps everything. Looking back over some of my school stuff I see alot of myself in Lexi.
This was a fun list Mattie. It brings up a lot of memories and makes me feel really grateful for all that I have.
1. My sister was given a large framed picture of all the grandkids with Grandpa that was taken in front of the castle at Disneyland. We ranged in ages from 1 to 6. April has let me hold onto it and it now hangs in our staircase. I love this picture! A few weeks ago I had my girls and my cousins son ask me about it. The best part is that they thought it was a picture of them. I guess the genes are strong in this family!
2. I have my Grandma's wedding band. Since Meag gets the engagement ring from April I will give the band to Sami.
3. The diamond earrings my Dad gave me on my wedding day. I wear them everyday. I also have the diamond earrings I gave Grams for her 75th birthday.
4. My Grandpa gave me a bunch of ride tickets from Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm. I remember so clearly my Mom tearing out the ticket we would need to ride our favorite rides. To hold these and look at them again is a blast from the past!
5. A guardian angel pin my Mom gave me when I moved out. This past summer she gave Meag one when she went on her first airplane trip alone.
I don’t know where to begin...there are just to many things!
I have moved about 10 times in the past seventeen years. Every time I move, I try to get rid of stuff I think I won’t miss.
My pictures are something I always take with me. I also save a lot of letters and postcards from friends and family members. I do not want to separate from my “wind in the willows” records. I am still using one of my mothers old saucepans and also a quilt cover she has given me, after I have moved out.
1. The baby blanket Grandma Jane has made for me. Unfortunately I have very few things from her. My mother did have some jewelry, but many years ago somebody broke into our apartment and most of it got stolen.
2. When I started working for Lufthansa, my mom gave me a key chain with an guardian angel. I have that with my key everywhere I go. It is only one piece in my collection of angels. I can’t remember how it started and I don’t believe in angels. I have angels made of wood, glas or fabric, postcards with angels and an umbrella with an angel print on it. One of my favourite pieces is an angel figure that used to belong to Bonnie.
3. A silver necklace that Bonnie has sent to me. On one side it looks like an old english coin. On the other it says: remember me when this you see.
4. During one of my visits grandpa gave me a beautiful painting of his front porch. I have it in my bedroom and I look at it every day.
5. Seashells and stones I have collected at various beaches (most of them from California)
Much love
Serena
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