A ring can mean many things because it is a symbol of many things. It is an exterior sign of a commitment, life vows, a reminder of faithfulness, enduring love. Losing a beloved ring can be emotionally traumatic. It’s a failure of sorts and shows terrible carelessness. My mother, Ethel, gave me a gold ring […]

Flea markets are a bonanza for those who covet small objects well-loved by others. Sepia-toned, unsmiling portraits, vintage tin toys and embroidered French linen are arranged in neat rows on sellers’ tables as my dad and I wander the aisles. I spot something we’ve been looking for, and find him in the crowd to share […]

As a child, I was once severely punished for breaking a religious statue. I was practicing twirling my baton, which flew out of my hand directly into a combo statue of Jesus and Mary. Unfortunately, Mary lost her head. It was an accident. Without going into the actual punishment (which definitely did not fit the […]

As an aging baby boomer I am trying to “downsize.” I’m trying to simplify my life and make things less stressful for my family when the time comes for them to say their final goodbye to me and my “stuff.” Like many folks, I have a box tucked away that holds the little treasured keepsakes […]

I listed my keepsakes this morning. It’s a smaller one than the mementos, isn’t it? A ticket stub is a memento. My father’s pocket watch is a keepsake. Mom’s standard-issue police whistle is, too. The mother of pearl inlay jewelry box I received in Thailand is another. All three are out where I can see […]

I’d ask acting students to bring an object to class that’s “important to them,” with no other instructions. This exercise produced: Bibles, guitars, knitted sweaters, photographs of sisters and plastic swizzle sticks. Some were beautiful keepsakes, almost holy ones. Once a student brought a graceful vase of cremated ashes. What turns mere things into keepsakes? Once […]

I tried the Mari Kondo method. I managed to purge some clothing. Material objects, on the other hand, were not easy to shed. The idea of taking a picture of the item and having that be the keepsake didn’t work for me. Every piece of jewelry,  tchotchke, basket, picture, dish … even a Beanie Boo […]

A spiral-bound notebook lined with handwritten entries is the best read I’ve ever had and it’s held my interest in the few years I’ve possessed it, luring me back to check for clues like an unsolved mystery. In pencil, my paternal great-great-grandfather accounted for his family’s lineage, labeling the top of each section on the […]