Lost memories can be replaced . . .

Devastation of any kind, be it by fire, hurricane, floods, tornadoes and theft, results in lost heirlooms and treasures one may feel can never be replaced. And this may be true in some circumstance, especially if the item was rare and cannot be replaced. However, many things can be, therefore, I am offering hopefully a little bit of solace with a few suggestions on how one can go about replacing their lost items.

In every city, town and on-the-road, there are individual antiques shops, antique malls with a plethora of booths showcasing and selling everything from A to Z. Even yard and garage sales. It doesn’t matter where you find your lost treasure and even if it is not exactly like the one that perished. As long as it resembles the piece(s).

Start by either finding a photograph of the lost item or search for a similarity online. In fact, it is possible to find most of what is lost by simply sitting at the computer and let your fingers tap away. Both ways, either physically or sitting and searching can help ease the pain of loss and even offer a bit of fun while you go on the hunt, because one of the greatest pleasures in life is when you find what you are looking for.

And after the replacement is completed, remember to always take a photo of it and log the items history: where and when you purchased it and what you paid for it. Insurance companies require authentication on many things and more than ever on antiques and other valuable items. It also provides a little piece of mind for you and your family.

Most of all, always remember that your memories will continue to be there even if the object of that memory is no longer with you. Life does go on and you never need to be without the things that make you happy. So go on, go to that antique store and peruse the many things that will take you down memory lane. And if and when that lost family heirloom is relocated, please start a Family Museum with it and build around it. Make it grow and flourish just as memories have over the years. Good luck!

The following page is a chapter taken from my book, Create a Family Museum and Save Your History. The words focus on the heartfelt theory of why we save things. Enjoy!

The Comfort of Things              

Everyone has an opinion. Many, particularly those in the field of analyzing human behavior, who, with my pedestrian knowledge on the study of the brain, have come to the conclusion that they are even still confused about the whys and wherefores as to why people collect, even after all their exploration and evaluations are through. Therefore, to simply state it, people collect and people save. It’s only human nature that we do. So let’s start out with an uncomplicated theory: things give us comfort.

Accumulation of things presents a tangible expression of a person or household. From the decorations hanging on the walls, to whose photographs are on display, and what collections are arrayed on mantelpieces. Material objects also help deal with loss and change and provide comfort. Collecting is also a great hobby. One can also learn about people through the medium of their things. There is a complex role played by objects in our lives, and indeed in our relationships with others. Becoming attuned to the presence of material forms can sometimes speak more easily and eloquently to the nature of relationships than can people themselves.

Does this make any sense to you? Kind of, you may think. Say, for example, you invite a new friend to your home and conversations are a bit awkward at first. Then you point out your collections of antique paper weights, each having a story to tell. Everyone had some kind of paper weight in their life and this subject may induce a lively conversation that will create a comfort zone. People like to tell stories and people like to hear them as long as you involved them by asking questions about their collections.  

So what do you collect? And why do you collect? 

When people think of collecting, they may imagine expensive works of art or historical artifacts that are later sold to a museum or

listed on eBay.  The truth is, for many people who amass collections, the value of their collections are not monetary but emotional —and often, not for sale. Collections allow people to relive their childhoods, to connect themselves to a period in history or to a time they feel strongly about. Their collections may help keep the past present, creating a comfortable atmosphere in which to live. However, do you feel overwhelm with stuff, fear that you are more connected to your material possessions more so then your relationships with people? That the more materialistic you become the more superficial you are, and that your relationships with people suffer as a result? Hogwash! The opposite is true; that possessions often remain profound and usually the closer our relationships are with objects, the closer are relationships with people.”

 

Collectors are really happy people.  Collecting is still mostly associated with positive emotions. There is the happiness from adding a new find to the collection, the excitement of the hunt, the social camaraderie when sharing their collection with other collectors. It is the comfort of things.

 

 

Excerpt from, “The Comfort of Things,” written by Daniel Miller; Cambridge: Polity, 2008

 

 

My book can be purchased at either of these sites:

 https://heritagebooks.com/collections/recent-publications/products/create-your-family-museum-and-save-your-history-how-to-find-space-create-organize-preserve-and-display-family-heirlooms-treasures-and-memories

 

https://www.amazon.com/Create-Family-Museum-Save-History/dp/0788457640/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1540153835&sr=1-1&keywords=elizabeth+Goesel

 

 

Where did September go?

My family and I were so glad to see September start and even happier when it came to a close. Why?

Here’s why . . . but first I had to resort looking back on my calendar to recall all the things and events that occurred.

All the schools were back in business after Labor Day and we could already feel the difference in the air. No noise from the community pool which is close to our house, the stores were fairly quiet with all the school supplies sold, and the tempo of the day returned to its normal beat with the days getting progressively shorter.

 

We were hoping for our hot weather to start cooling off, but that wasn’t happening. In fact, there was Hurricane Florence approaching our eastern shores and we were told to buckle down our homes and fill our pantries. Charlie even secured his young willow tree from the savage winds.

As the hurricane couldn’t make up its mind which way or what state it was going to hit, the barometric pressure and constant heat played havoc with our nerves. Then our air conditioner decided to quit. Needless to say, this furthered our discomfort and made working

in the house difficult, for we were expecting company. Why is it that chores, repairs, cleaning and such are put off until company comes? I guess it is because now you have a need, thus incentive to get those things done, so we did and after it was all done, we patted each other on the back and took a nap.

Then the hurricane blasted the shores of North Carolina and its furious winds decided to change course, going around Virginia’s shores, to the west, then north then east again, skipping over us. This was good but it trapped the hot humid air and made us all miserable. It even made air travel for our guess uncertain but when the day came for her to fly from Chicago to us, all was fine and she arrived, safe and happy.

Donna stayed for a week and we entertained, went shopping, sightseeing, and I even gave a talk on my book to a local genealogical club where she pitched in and had a great time. Before that our family hosted our monthly wine & dine group, which is pretty easy but nonetheless, creates more work.   

The time went fast and she was back on the plane to Chicago.

 

It took us the next week to recoup from all of this activity and then the weather started to get cooler. I got back to taking care of our booth at the local antique mall and on the last day of Sept. there was an antique car show there and we enjoyed looking at all the old cars. Great way to end this crazy month.

Now it is October and we are  once again waiting for the weather to get cooler and thinking about the holidays. I also need to get back into our Family Museum and organize the things we have been adding to our collections over the months. I truly enjoy working in our little museum and happy to know that our past is secure and on display for us and all the visitors that come our way. So how is your Family Museum doing? I hoped you saved your summertime memories and added whatever pictures and souvenirs you collected along the way.

And as the evenings start earlier and days become shorter, now is a good time to start organizing your memories before more are garnered with holidays and such. Until then, enjoy October and take care. I will post again when the spirit inclines me to do so.