I have had a weekend of… something-yellow-labelled-Thrive and old lace. And bottles with odd contents, labelled only with the names of family members. Cufflinks and photographs and records, nutmeg graters, aprons, diaries and slides.
Tomorrow: a 12 hour drive with my knees underneath my chin because of ballgowns, very old mixmasters and paintings by a minor artist of whom Google says his works hardly ever come on the market, which is probably because my grandmother owned most of them. I’m at risk of being flippant, but it’s only to keep general spirits up. We were in hysterics yesterday afternoon, and all burst into tears together yesterday morning.
Everyone says it is sad deconstructing a life, and I keep saying that she wouldn’t have been sentimental about everything – there are things you treasure, like the wedding ring and watch and the ring from the man who asked you to marry you but you didn’t want to get married again, and those you put in a shortbread tin at the bottom of a cupboard under your folding travel hangers. But other things are just the clothes you wore because a body has to wear clothes, and there’s no point getting sentimental over that – unless its over the scent that lingers on them.
September 20, 2009 at 6:28 pm
My thoughts are with you.
(A lovely, well written post, too, I will add.)
September 20, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Please know you are in our prayers and our hearts.
September 21, 2009 at 12:14 am
A hard time – Such a difficult rite of passage.
September 21, 2009 at 10:42 am
What Aimee said.
September 22, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Thank you, all.
September 28, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Darling, I read this to your Dad this morning, very touching. Love you…