Selling Stuff

2/25/2014

I don't know about your house, but inside my house there is lots of stuff!  Jeff and I are hampered by memories which makes it nearly impossible for us to sell or give away our treasures.  For instance I have a heart shaped piece of polished wood that my Dad made during the war. It doesn't take up much sense and I know I'll never part with it.  Why?  It belonged to Dad which is enough of a reason for me.  

I have several ceramic bowls and vases that were made by the boys  along time ago.  Keeping them?  You bet.  I'm very sentimental and while I haven't seen the boys' art projects in years, believe they are stored in a trunk in the basement.

As far as anything Benjamin has ever made for me, it's inside my hope chest, which is getting kind of full!  I have even saved a pair of Benjamin's baby socks.  I'm keeping them simply because they remind me of how small he used to be.  I have lots of photo albums which is where pictures were kept in the "old days".  Now all pictures are digital and "pixels" (or whatever they're called)  of data take up very little space. 

I have all of Dad's slides most of which were taken while he was stationed in France.  As kids, we loved it when Dad took the projector and screen out.  We loved looking at pictures from our past and Dad was a pretty good photographer.  When we went to Holland for the Tulip Festival, there was a float parade.  All the float were made from flowers (lots of tulips) and there was at least one or two beautiful women on the float.  Apparently, at some point in taking pictures, Dad started concentrating on the women and less on the flowers!  Mother got him back on track.

I have a beautiful rhinestone and sapphire necklace that belonged to my Mother. I think I've only worn it once or twice, but I'm not willing to part with it. 

Then there is my Dad's British stamp collection, which Jeff funded for Dad, so that he could continue to mount stamps without any expense on his part.  It was nice of Jeff to give Dad what turned out to be years of pleasure.  Now I have the stamps and don't feel sentimental about them.  I'm intending to sell them and will accept whatever price I'm offered.  I know that the boys will not want to deal with selling the stamps (all mint) at some date in the future.

Benjamin will be six in April and is no longer a little boy.  I've listed some of this things, like his play kitchen, on Craigslist and hope that somebody offers to buy his toys.  I know I will never have another grandchild and Benjamin is spending less time at our house, so it makes sense to me to try and sell these things so another little boy/girl can enjoy them as much as he once did. I listed the toys at very fair prices in hopes of selling everything quickly.  Time doesn't standstill and I know that Benjamin is not a little boy now - he's a big boy - and will want us to have different kinds of toys here when he visits.

P