Heirlooms
The surprising things we hold on to
Most heirlooms are pretty things. Pearl necklaces, antique furniture, silverware engraved with your great-something-or-other’s initials.
You might break them out for a gala or store them in the room that has all the furniture that no one’s allowed to sit on, but they’re not things you think about or use every day. They’re special, and they come out by appointment only.
That’s how they last, and it’s a smart way to treat precious things, but practical things can be heirlooms, too.
A few years ago my family was cleaning out a storage unit and found a suitcase that was probably going to be thrown away. It was locked, no one could figure out the combination, and it didn’t sound like it had anything of value in it.
Before we put it on the curb, we busted it open to make sure. Inside were a few pieces of clothing and a pair of loafers my dad had last worn before I was born. They were dusty, half a size too big, and had no real tread to speak of, but they had potential. So I shined them up, added inserts, and resoled them.
To be honest, they’re cool. They’re vintage. They get a little attention here and there. But that’s not why I wear them.
I don’t live near my parents. And they’re not spring chickens anymore. Any chance we have to share something is a special occasion. And I’d rather share and enjoy these things while we’re still talking about the future than when they’re memories from the past.
Even if it’s just a pair of loafers. Or a photo-turned-bookmark that my mom’s included with a care package.
Those things are worth keeping, too.