REMNANTS FROM MY PAST

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Or: Why I still use items from my childhood household.

Is it just a matter of frugality? (Huh, me and being frugal? Not really!) No, it’s more a matter of my way of thinking. Why throw away a perfectly good item when it’s not broken? I discovered that I would rather throw out or give away stuff I bought instead of stuff I took with me from my childhood home after the death of my parents. And whenever I use or see one of those items it makes me smile and think of them. “Researching” the idea I had for this post it kind of blew my mind how much I still have and use everyday stuff which I could have replaced by more modern things.

1.) My parents’ cooking pots: Why would I throw out perfectly good pots of excellent quality? Just to get a different set? Oh, and I also still possess and use a small milk pot which was part of their very first set … let’s see … I guess it’s 40+ years old by now … and I will probably have it another 40 years …

2.) Those orange bowls: being in our household as long as I can remember. I would presume they must be around 35+ years by now. And I still use them! And makes me think of our former ochre coloured kitchen (hey, it was the 70s, a perfectly suitable colour in those days …)

3.) Clothes drying rack: not as old, but still at least 15-20 years old. And still as good as new.

4.) My beloved freezer: move No 1 – Carinthia to Styria, move No 2 – Styria to first apartment in Germany, move No 3 – first apartment to the relationship apartment, move No 4 – relationship apartment to my current apartment. And we’re here to stay! It’s still working and I hope it will keep working for a long time to come! Screw the not yet stellar energy efficiency – which HE had to point out constantly! My darling freezer is defrosting itself … so what else is there to say!? (Well, apart from my desire to have a larger freezer … but my freezer has been a faithful companion through all those moves, so I will stay faithful to him until the end …)

5.) Socks: Yep, my father has been dead these past 12 years and I still wear some of his pairs of socks at home. Tacky? Well, I also still have a few other clothing items like two of his beloved flannel button down shirts, which he wore at home in winter … and I too occasionally wear them.

6.) Knives and other kitchen utensils. Too many to count.

7.) Soap supplies from my father’s business trips: oh boy, he was collecting them and once upon a time there were two large boxes filled with hotel soaps. And we were only allowed to use up the multiples. Even though I distributed some of them to my sister and my aunt, the major part stayed with me. I guess I will be washing my hands with hotel soaps for a few years to come yet … which I actually prefer to liquid soap.

8.) Mum’s black anorak and the one or other clothing item: I love it, I just love it. Even though it’s slowly starting to get a bit shabby at the sleeves and hem. But I just can’t part with it. Not yet.

9.) All those nice writing utensils – lots and lots of ballpoints, mechanical pencils and fountain pens. All of very good quality and used by yours truly. Daily.

10.) Fondue set and cheese fondue pot: welcome to the 70s. Do I need to say more? (Besides, I might have already mentioned my treasured sets a few of my posts!)

11.) Tools: thanks to my Dad’s extensive collection I just had to get myself a cordless drill and screwdriver. My sister inherited his set … and for the common repairs and improvements in my apartment I’m perfectly equipped.

12.) My everyday plates: with the lovely herb design – every plate another herb –, which were acquired during the two years my father lived and worked in Dusseldorf / Germany. So, they are back in their home country.

I’m sure I missed a few things, which pop up from time to time. Like … coasters, single dishes, wine glasses, bowls, vases, table linens … they are part of my life and my past. Reminders of my home, my parents and beloved forever.

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