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Kathy Glennon's avatar

My wife has her family silver ( she is from the south), polishes it grudgingly on special occasions or if someone is coming to visit and has several other pieces she threatens to bequeath to the next generation. Can’t keep, don’t use, but can’t really part with.

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Beth Kaplan's avatar

Well put - can’t keep, don’t use, but can’t really part with. I think we'll burden the next generation with a lot of stuff like that. Ah well.

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Lana harper's avatar

I think the sentimental value by far outweighs the market value. I am one of those "dealers". Cherish the fond memories of your late Mother and then consign the items to a dealer who will find a new loving home for them.

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Cynthia Scott Aucoin's avatar

What a nostalgic story. I remember the silver pieces that my mother lovingly kept in a wooden engraved trunk (one of her treasures) and in her later years would open to occasionally inspect and clean a piece if needed. One day after I’d been married for years my mother proudly gave me her pair of charming silver plated candelabra’s which I happily used for many years entertaining family and friends. Thank you for bringing back to me those lovely moments with my mom.

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Nicolas Steinmetz's avatar

My mother had a special very thin and soft , easily bendable silver soup spoon which now lives with ordinary cutlery of all sizes and negligible value in the kitchen drawer.

I like using it. It sprouts a cacophony of memories each time I do.

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Beth Kaplan's avatar

How wonderful that my mother's spoons are jogging so many memories.

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Bernie L Cruikshank's avatar

Wonderful memories.

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Beth Kaplan's avatar

I'm glad. My mother would be too.

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Linda Rice's avatar

My mother collected demitasse spoons, cups and saucers and pretty English tea cups...all differest from each other. That I find charming. My mother-in-law presented me with her treasured tea cups she kept in shoe boxes. I appreciate those more than any jewelry she might have passed onto me.

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Patti Petersen's avatar

Alice you took me back into a less harsh world in this share.

My mother collected crystal, silver, china, Christmas village (Department 56). Late in life, after my father died my mother collected tea pots.

My father collected coins and books.

Today I struggle with the collection gene, though mine is a bit different. I collect and take online courses.

It took me years to let go of my family collections. It was an emotional burden left to my brother and me... I'm taking the brunt of the sadness that goes along donating or giving away these once "priceless" treasures and memories held dear to our hearts in some way.

Today I choose to live a simple life. I don't want to burden anyone when I go.

Great read, thank you.

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