The big garage I reminisced over last week was relatively empty (as my child’s perspective recalls), while Dave’s parent’s garage, where they kept their bicycles, motorcycles and such, was crammed full of stuff. It is true. I saw it. There was not one path to meander through. Well, maybe one? (Dave says no.) There was furniture and boxes stored from his grandma’s house after her death, a beautiful old cabinet full of paint cans and such against the back wall, and boxes and boxes of Life magazines. There were so many other various things that Dave can’t remember them all – because his dad was a saver like his son is. But dad would save things that could “potentially” be used in school projects – like milk jugs and toothpaste tube caps – yes, he did use those caps. I have no doubt there were some impressive school projects that he helped his kids with as he was a very gifted artist, photographer, and craftsman.
As a child Dave thought their garage was spooky (lol, he should have tried going into the dusty, three-car, elusive garage!), but, oh, the treasures he would find. Like things to build his two-room fort – complete with a small fridge and electric heat. Anyway, back to garage finds that led to fort building before a tangent comes over me… His dad would bring home redeemed wood and tell him to take the nails out and then he could use the wood. His first lesson in carpentry, no doubt – and repurposing. There were old nails to straighten and use as well.
These days, Dave gets angry with himself for not getting their garage organized for his dad, but how many kids or teens think that way regarding the parents’ territories? And then we have our own garages and can barely keep up with them. While there is a different make-up of the stored items in my husband’s adult garage compared to his dad’s, it is very similar to his father’s. (Lol, what we get from our parents!) However, there are plenty of paths to get around in our garage and most of what Dave has is, or will one day be, useful. Ask our eldest grandchild who recently benefited by that garage full of stuff. If only it were organized more, so he could find what he needs. “I know it’s in the garage somewhere…” Five hours (or two days) later, he goes to the hardware store. He is much better than he used to be though, so that’s good. On an upward path to getting it organized between his projects.
Another smooth transition (like last week) from childhood memories to present day thoughts. Lessons we learned from our parents are only as good as we benefit from them by doing – or not doing – them.
Maybe it’s time to sort out or break free from some of our past – physical and/or emotional – and keep replacing them with new sludge-free things and memories.
See you next week, when I’ll take a break from memories.
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