My mom (still alive at 98) was also born in 1924, and still has that Depression-era frugality.
I relate to the significance of things found in cereal boxes. When I was six, I pulled a Ken Willard (49ers running back) card out of a box of Corn Flakes. To this day, I remain a 49ers fan!
I was always forbidden to have cereal in which the first ingredient was sugar. My mom would occasionally make exceptions -- rare ones -- if there was something cool inside the box. Honeycomb was particularly good about that, if memory serves. And of course Cap'n Crunch.
Ted, this really hit home! My depression-era mother habitually sent me clippings from the local paper and other miscellaneous stuff -- beautifully penned notes, too -- all through my adulthood, up until she went into a nursing home. I didn't appreciate it much then, but sure miss it now.
I envy you this...my parents moved around and no one kept my stuff. After my mother died in 2020 I received 3 large cardboard boxes of her remaining things (she died in a nursing home) and do treasure a few of the items therein, mostly a small stuffed mouse she had for many years and which likely traveled the world with her. I made sure to have Mousie accompany me on a month's solo road trip in CA last year in her honor.
Thank you for this. I know you've posted about your relationship with your parents and it seems like you (probably as many do) struggle with having FEWER things rather than too many. I suspect fewer is a challenging thing to navigate as well. I love the stuffed mouse story and hope you write about it one day.
Thanks. We live in a one bedroom apt. and have no kids to pass anything onto. It helps us be very careful about what we acquire. Mousie musings possibly TK...
Love this piece, Ted! Have had similar finds & feelings as my own elders have passed away in recent years. Makes you wonder what objects will touch your next of kin!
My mom (still alive at 98) was also born in 1924, and still has that Depression-era frugality.
I relate to the significance of things found in cereal boxes. When I was six, I pulled a Ken Willard (49ers running back) card out of a box of Corn Flakes. To this day, I remain a 49ers fan!
I was always forbidden to have cereal in which the first ingredient was sugar. My mom would occasionally make exceptions -- rare ones -- if there was something cool inside the box. Honeycomb was particularly good about that, if memory serves. And of course Cap'n Crunch.
Ted, this really hit home! My depression-era mother habitually sent me clippings from the local paper and other miscellaneous stuff -- beautifully penned notes, too -- all through my adulthood, up until she went into a nursing home. I didn't appreciate it much then, but sure miss it now.
I keep coming across little envelopes with fleeting hellos and clippings. It's like new content from people who are gone. Thanks so much.
Great piece Ted. You kept the money flow to yourself otherwise I would have hit you up for some pizza.
I'll buy you a Hiway pie next time we're in town to make up for it.
I envy you this...my parents moved around and no one kept my stuff. After my mother died in 2020 I received 3 large cardboard boxes of her remaining things (she died in a nursing home) and do treasure a few of the items therein, mostly a small stuffed mouse she had for many years and which likely traveled the world with her. I made sure to have Mousie accompany me on a month's solo road trip in CA last year in her honor.
Thank you for this. I know you've posted about your relationship with your parents and it seems like you (probably as many do) struggle with having FEWER things rather than too many. I suspect fewer is a challenging thing to navigate as well. I love the stuffed mouse story and hope you write about it one day.
Thanks. We live in a one bedroom apt. and have no kids to pass anything onto. It helps us be very careful about what we acquire. Mousie musings possibly TK...
Love this piece, Ted! Have had similar finds & feelings as my own elders have passed away in recent years. Makes you wonder what objects will touch your next of kin!
Thanks, Guthrie. Good to hear from you. Yes I wonder what unexpected things we will leave behind that will offer unusual windows on who we are/were!
Maternally curated miscellany is the best. Great first piece! 😁
There’s sooooo much of it!