Memory Box

Clearing clutter - my challenge is always the distractions - "look at this!"
Clearing a music shelf & adding a box inside the larger one, to better use the space - & oh, the goodies! A few blank books, kid books, music to add to the Christmas collection, some beginning songs that may entice the oldest grand daughter, . . .

& a mystery box!

I thot my grandpa Mel died when I was 6 - but that's probably when he went to live in a care center. I was actually 8 1/2 (my oldest grand daughter's age) when my mom recorded who came to her sister's for a meal after his service. For a few years, grandpa spent part of a year with us, part with one of my aunts. Then he began 'wandering,' & grumbled about my dad (whom he liked) when he stayed with us.

Here was a financial record book of his last few years, when to my mom's dismay, he was too 'confused' for a nursing home to handle, & he was sent to the State Hospital over in Pendleton. Some correspondence - 'thank you for sending money for Mr H's cigarettes & some fruit.' . . . A message about where to send payment for his care, & a ledger including payments from Uncle Ray for 'the ranch' - $360 a month, at 4% interest; that ranch (or part of the acreage & house) most recently sold for over $4 million!

The billfold was his, the little plaque a bowling award for my Uncle Allen's - the first of my mom's siblings to pass, in his early 70s. Was it Mel's pocket knife, or Allan's? & such a cute little passbook for my mom's savings, the year before she got married!
This the spring my last uncle, Ray, died at 93; my mother was also 93, when she slipped thru the veil four years ago.

Here she & my dad cut the wedding cake, Mel & Mary are in the little ovals, & great grandpa Ben (7th best sharpshooter West of the Mississippi in his time), gr. Grandma Laura.

The box contains Allen's letter to my aunt Letha, talking about shortness of breath, & that he'd made a will. He had smoked for years, & asked the doc if it would help if he quit? "You're about 20-30 years too late on that!" He comments "I hope this isn't too depressing! I feel better now."
There are a few other miscelaneous bits - a coloured paper leaf with my name on the back, a card or two, that knife & a pipe stem. Other treasure boxes rest in my garage, waiting to be uncovered.
Oh, & the cutest little white box that has a snap - contains a shell & agate, & a penny!! Was it the penny my mom had in her shoe on her wedding day? I know their honeymoon was at the coast! I'm going to assume/pretend they are!

Back to the music shelf . . .