Old Things

​Oh all right, if you insist, I’ll write about stamps again.  It is really me insisting but I’m not going to tell you that.  Try to forget I just did.
I have been fascinated by stamps for years.  I guess it is old stuff that fascinates me.  I learned today someone visited my dad when he was still with us – not since he has gone as that would be just scary.  He was over 90 and building something.  He had a spirit level and told the person who visited it had been his dads.  I still have that, but I never knew it had been his dad’s.  Really pleased I kept it.
I see it regularly.  So often people say “that can go, I can get one at Bunnings for a couple of dollars.”  That is true but without the history.  I am fond of saying when it is gone it is gone.
I guess that would make me a good hoarder except I don’t.  What I won’t do is throw out something just because it is old.  I guess if I did that, I could not really object to me being thrown out too.
I was recently going through some of my dad’s tools.  I came across a hessian bag.  Dime a dozen for sure.  But this one had writing on it that said, “Prussian Peas.”  My roots are Prussian.  It no longer exists.  As a state it was abolished in 1947.  I have kept some of the older tools.  I may not know what they are or what they did, but they still work.
We had a guy fix something.  He saw them and said “I have not seen one of them in ages.  The old hand drill he said he still has, but does not use now. 
I know I can be really frustrating.  If I am unsure, I keep stuff.  When I am sure, I either dispose of it or keep it.  When it is gone, it is gone.
We are helping someone downsize now.  Some things are hard to get rid of.  I have never been one to dispose of others stuff if they are around.  It is incredible how people object to that.  I will help but the decision is theirs.  For me it may have no value, yet for another it has history.  For me to dispose of it unthinkingly would not be good.  Sometimes letting go is right, but everyone needs to decide for themselves.  When it is a married couple unselfishness needs to prevail.
Merril and I have a motto.  Something is kept if it is beautiful, useful or joyful.  Dad’s tools met two of those criteria.  Useful and joyful.  Ok it is not so useful now, but it was a primary tool once.  What it is, is joyful.  It brings me joy as it was important to dad and it brings back memories of him.
We went to the Treasure Market.  I remember seeing a guy walk out with something I did not know was for.  I would have discarded it.  He found it useful.
I like how we do stuff.  The bringer of the item to the relationship determines what they want to keep.  Then the other goes though the stuff to be discarded and determines if they would like to keep anything.
Unless something is broken and good for nothing, we do not throw it away.  We give it to charity.  Perhaps someone will see it and want it.  Better someone else gets to enjoy it if we do not anymore.