It's About Time | From Skilled Hands

It’s About Time

By fromskilledhands ( January 2, 2010 at 5:30 pm) · Filed under New Year

It’s about time, I thought. Time to go through the boxes of papers and odds and ends that I bought home after my Dad died. So on New Year’s Eve, I did just that. Receipts from 1972, and yellow pads of paper with lists—lots of lists of tiny figures and notes were spread over the bed. I put a pile of them in a laundry basket to be shredded or burned some time soon. But the treasures! The treasures I shall keep. And I will smile and laugh.

There were my parents’ marriage license and birth certificates. Letters they had written to each other, and cards we had given them as children. The bill of sale when my Dad first bought his optometric practice—it included furniture, equipment and good will. There was the deed from the first house my parents bought—for $14,000.

On August 27, 1953, my Dad bought a 1953 2-door Chevrolet for $2073.87. He selected the following options: directional signals for $16.75, a side-view mirror for $3.55, an oil filter for $15.25, and windshield washers for $11.65. In 1959, my Mom had a car, probably her first. Hers had a heater for $80.25, 2 speed windshield washers for $16.15, back up lites (sic) for $11.95, a mirror for $5.95, and a foam rubber front seat for $19.95. They splurged on two tone color and porcelanization.

Time has, as it is said, healed old wounds, and I am able to do this with ease. Learning about things that are part of the tapestry of my family’s life is a wonderful thing, and the quirks I remember are right there! on paper!

Onward into the new decade! Papers sorted and filed. Embracing the memories and looking forward to the future.

Dad's stuff

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6 comments »

Lana said,

January 2, 2010 @ 6:05 pm

Amazing. Enjoy your unexpected treasures.
Jodi Anderson said,

January 2, 2010 @ 6:26 pm

I enjoyed reading outloud to my husband the accessories that your parents had on their cars. It’s so interesting to think of paying extra for blinkers!!

I also find this post to be inspiring because I have a lot of old papers, some treasures and some VERY MUCH NOT, yet it is so hard to go through this kind of stuff as you well know. Anyhow, you’ve inspired me with your own actions and I’ll keep you in mind before I take a deep breath and select a box. Thanks. <3
Reya Mellicker said,

January 2, 2010 @ 8:59 pm

What a beautiful post! My oh my. How funny to pay for “foam rubber” front seats. Wonder what the alternative was. Lovely to have the letters.

What is remembered, lives. Thank you for this.
OldOldLady Of The Hills said,

January 2, 2010 @ 11:44 pm

Oh what True Treasures, Debra…! And I love the info about the car. I had a car—my very first car—in 1950, I think, and it is amazing how so many things that are standard now, were “Optional” then…..!
Isn’t it good that you could do this and not have it be so so terribly painful! And that you could find such sweet things…Marvelous. And a lovely way to spend New Years Eve, my dear.
Laura/centerdownhome said,

January 7, 2010 @ 9:11 am

What is it about January that has us thinking of loved ones who are no longer with us? It doesn’t feel sad, though. More like holding them close, keeping memories, and sorting treasures, as you say. I loved reading about your dad, in your linked post. “Tall Paul” sounded like a special man.
Cat B said,

January 30, 2010 @ 9:01 pm

Ah, beautiful, Debra! How these details tell the stories of our lives!