More Than Stuff

Craig and I were just chatting about heirlooms the other day. He’s got his eye on something specific from his grandpa’s place: a miniature John Deere tire that was transformed into—wait for it—an ashtray.

Yep. An ashtray.

Oh, my.

Not too long ago, Mom, Dad, Chelle, and I met with a representative from Legacy, an estate planning company. We spent the day filling out paperwork for finances, power of attorney, and all that grown-up stuff. It got me thinking about the keepsakes in our family and what we might want to pass along to our kids.

For instance, I have Grandma Doris’s cuckoo clock. As a kid, I was mesmerized by the little bird that popped out on the hour to chirp. Now, it’s not one of those fancy, hand-carved wooden clocks from Germany. Nope, it’s a 1950s plastic replica—but I love it all the same.

Then there’s Grandma Is’ engagement ring. It has a tiny diamond chip in a beautifully detailed square setting. Back in the early 1930s, when money was tight, this style was all the rage, and it reminds me of her every time I see it.

Now, Mom’s house? She has. so. much. stuff. And I’ve got my own collection of treasures, too, so I really don’t need more. We joke that one day, Chelle and I are going to have to “bomb” the house just to sort through it all. It’s overwhelming!

But seriously—when it comes down to it, what do we really want from our loved ones once they’re gone? It’s not really the stuff, is it? It’s the memories. That’s why I love spending the holidays at my parents’ house, where every corner seems to hold a story. For example, Mom’s blue Santa collection? It’s so…her. And I’ve got my eye on a few of those Santas.

I also love her clocks. I have a grandfather clock in my own home that’s basically the heartbeat of the house. And then there’s her grandmother clock, which Dad gave her as an 11th-anniversary gift on July 6, 1974. She has Grandma Bauer’s old kitchen clock, too, and the clock Uncle Kenny used to take apart as a kid (Great Uncle Lloyd–the “Clock Meister”– put it back together). There’s even an iron clock in the dining room that she recently picked up, but it looks like something straight out of a European flea market.

Our family treasures carry memories and stories that enrich our lives long after our loved ones are gone. They remind us of the people who shaped us, the homes we’ve shared, and the unique qualities of each generation. As we pass these items down, we don’t just pass down “stuff” but the love and connection that made those items special.

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