Nana Never Tossed This!

This post is a little different.  Not really a “tip” but more of a story.

As of this writing, my lovely mother-in-law is 94 years old and still very much alive. We are so grateful for that. But, she is no longer living in either of her two homes, which has meant that my husband and I have been working through the long, emotional, and sometimes surprising process of clearing the very full houses out.

And as we sort, pack, donate, and decide… we are finding things.

Things that make us smile.

Things that make us pause.

Things that make us wonder about the story behind them and wish that she could tell us.

Some are practical. Some are puzzling. Some are simply delightful in their own way. But most should have been thrown out long ago.

So, I’ve decided to start a Sunday photo series called “Nana Never Tossed This.”

Please know this is not done to be unkind, critical, or to shame.  But to share the things I’ve found and have a bit of a chuckle or think back to a different time!

Because if you have ever helped clear out a parent’s or grandparent’s home, you know that this process is layered. It’s tender. It’s overwhelming at times. And it’s often surprisingly funny.

Previous generations kept things differently from the way we do. They saved wrapping paper, rubber bands, and instruction manuals from 1972. They saved things that made perfect sense to them in their season of life.

And honestly? I am not immune.

I am quite sure that someday someone will hold up one of my belongings and say, “Why on earth did she keep THIS?”

Clearing out a home is not just about stuff; it’s about memory and identity. And about the tangible remains of a long life well lived.

So on Sundays, I’ll be sharing one small snapshot. It may be something unusual, charming, or something that made us laugh out loud in the middle of a big job.

I hope these photos give you a smile, too!

And maybe, just maybe, it will spark a little conversation about what we choose to keep, and why.  And encourage us to share the stories around those items while we can.

If you have found something surprising while helping clear a loved one’s home, I would truly love to hear about it. Cheers to Nana and the things she never tossed!