The Things We Love (Nancy and Betsy)

Each of us owns things that we love too much to give away. These “keepers” may not be valuable to anyone else but ourselves. I asked our guest bloggers to share their favorite objects that went with them on their most recent move and tell us the stories behind them.   

Nancy’s Beloved Objects 

Antique Bed. The bed was owned by Nancy’s "antique collecting" mother-in-law (made for the mayor of East Liverpool, Ohio, probably sometime in the 1800s). “Though it is large and cumbersome, it has been my husband’s and mine for over fifty years of marriage. There was never any thought of giving it up.” 

Trophy. “The trophy is cheap and precious.” Nancy received it for winning an eight-mile swimming competition (over three days) when she was thirteen. As an adult, she wrote a poem about it called “To Strength” that was a part of an award-winning chapbook. 

Pottery Piece Made by Nancy’s Son. This piece was created by Nancy’s son when he was a senior in high school and for which he won second place (she believes) in a New Jersey State contest. “I have kept this because of the story (much like the trophy). “A” took the pottery class because he thought it would be an easy elective. As usual, he procrastinated and had to rush to complete his piece. Frustrated, he twisted it (thinking he could start a new one, but his teacher said he had no more time). Then he accidentally spilled the glaze, and the result was this piece - we went to a showing at Rutgers University.” 

Betsy’s Beloved Objects   

Daddy's lunch box. “I could never get rid of it.” Betsy received this object from her aunt, her dad's elder sister, after he died in 2002. Betsy believes it is from the 1920s, although it could be older. “The old tin tobacco box was used to carry his lunch to school every day. I've often wondered what it contained. He grew up on a farm in Chester, Vermont, and had to live and work at a different farm in order to attend high school.” 

Old Friends. “What can I say? Growly Bear was purchased for me before I was born. He sat at the end of my bassinet. You may not believe me, but I saw him there. He registered in my memory. He lost his growl a long time ago; now he just clunks when you bend him at the waist. Then there is Sweet Kitty and Sweet Baby. My forever companions. I loved all her hair off. I'm sure Sweet Kitty must have started out with a different color of soft fur, but memory does not record her beginnings. I know I was very small when they both came into my life.”

Walky Doll & Floppy Baby. “I have a black and white photograph of me sitting in my mother's lap holding Walky Doll one Christmas. My mom is looking down at me with a smile, and I am looking at the camera with all my baby teeth showing. I look thrilled. My mom made all of Walky Doll's clothes. Obviously, she is named for what a little girl could make her do - her legs could swivel so that a child could 'make' her walk. I got Floppy Baby later as another Christmas gift. My little sister received a smaller version with brown hair. I believe we got these baby dolls when I lived in Connecticut, which would make me about seven. Floppy Baby is wearing her original outfit, but she could wear real baby clothes, which delighted my little motherly heart no end. I played with all my 'babies' for maybe a little longer than most little girls. And I played with them by myself.” Betsy says that coming from a family of seven, where she was the second youngest, she “definitely needed my alone time.” “I loved the fact that Floppy Baby was so life-like that one time camping, a woman walked by, did a double-take and said she thought my doll was a real baby! Talk about a proud little mother! I gave up playing with doll-babies after we moved to Inidiana. One day I caught myself spanking Floppy Baby. It was over. I knew I didn't want to become that kind of mother. I was probably 11 or 12.” 

Betsy notes, “The above are things I went to immediately when I thought of things I would never be rid of in a downsizing project. I may have to be buried with my babies!”

What objects are so beloved to you that they will always go with you?