Inside this suitcase are the last remnants of bits of history that are not mine: war medals, marmalade recipes, long-ago title deeds, documents, shop bills etc. Initially, when Dina, her assistant and I cleared the sheds and the old cottage, this suitcase was only half full but now I have filled it with every single other document/old photo so that all of the historical stuff is now in one place!
For some reason (procrastination + a bit of depression) I have saved this last job of sorting through for tomorrow when Dina is meeting me at the nursing home. There is a family member who has been writing a history of this family so it is wonderful to be able to put papers and photos into ‘the Margaret box’.
Also, the antique guy + heritage people have taken away the historical stuff that they know more about than I will ever know. Hence, I have earned a few thousand dollars for bits and pieces that were interesting to see, but not to keep.
The decluttering of this house and farm, over the last few months, has been an extraordinary experience of joy and pain, with a dash of relief!
Letting history go….
jmgoyder 
What a huge project-and i have a time of it when I just clean out the papers that pile up. It is very freeing. I look forward to hearing snippets of history that come from “Margaret’s box.”
With our cavorting all over the country now and not really having a permanent address a lot of the history seems to have lost its interest by the future generations of my family. It is all locked in a storage unit, gathering dust which will at sometime need sorting and either selling or claimed by the kids… seeing as the flood of 2001 kind of cleared a lot, I’m not sure much shall survive a family claim…. wish I had your organising lady….
It can’t have been easy Julie. Hugs. ❤
Diana xo
Well done indeed for letting the last ties go.
Do hope there are lots of things of interest for Margaret.
Seems like letting it go is ensuring it will be catalogued and maintained for you all. Seems like the brilliant thing to do Julie.
I feel privileged to witness this, Julie. Thank you.
I’m doing the same thing. Its so hard to give up items of historical or sentimental value – even when they aren’t truly mine. I have so much primary source World War 2 items including a journal by a soldier, and no legitimate organization wants them. But de-clutter I must so I’m plowing through and I’m inspired by your strength in getting it done.
onward!
I think that it was wonderful of you, Jules, to share your experience with the rest of us, you have given us much to think about, if and when sometime in the future it is our turn to go through our own mountains of history. You wrote about it beautifully hugs Jules 😀
I have been going through Al’s stuff for a couple of months now. I know the feelings of freeing up space and yet letting go
I hope that this last bit goes as well as possible.
Going through old stuff is such a big job and you’ve had to go through so many other people’s stuff. I admire you for tackling the job!
Letting go of history for me would be hard I have a love for history so I think you are amazing for being able to let go of such things
A few of my friends and I have been “letting go” of things to de-clutter our houses, but we’ve found a bonus comes with it. We feel “lighter,” less burdened down by THINGS. One friend plans to move to warmer climates next year, and she’s stripping her house of anything she doesn’t want to take with her and her husband. She keeps getting rid of more and more, so much that it’s surprised me. When I asked her about it, she told me she wants a fresh start. I can understand that. Hope you have a fresh start now, too.
We had to do a similar job when we emptied Bob’s parents home and moved across the country. It is a daunting task and we still held onto to many things. I am glad that you are strong enough to just let it go! Some of the boxes haven’t been opened since we got here seven years ago… I am still wheedling my way through it all. Your progress encourages me!