Write Stories To Me, Grandpa! | Page 6

into antiques that are honored in the family's lore
and traditions.
You have several, you say? Heirlooms? Where? And antiques too?
Squirreled away, at the moment, in your cellar, attic, or garage, or
proudly displayed in your den or sewing room, the ancient objects
eventual departure for elsewhere is inevitable. They have survived one
house cleaning after another and denied candidacy for garage sales and
flea markets. Some are treasures from previous generations, or the
product of your own hands and, without doubt, they belong to posterity.
OK, so this or that artifact doesn't' have museum value; it could still be
of enduring interest to your family and to the progeny of your progeny's
progeny, even unto the xth generation. Who's to say?
The heirloom, or heirloom-to-be, might be a brooch or wedding dress
great-grandma wore, or a long ago foot-pedaling or hand-turning

sewing machine. It might be a delicate tea set, a venerable book of
sheet music your grandpa's great-grandma brought with her from the
old country, a 1920s typewriter on its original stand, a set of ancient but
still usable wood carving tools, a widget that the inventor (your
Grandpa!) was certain would be a technological breakthrough, or, you
name it.
And that may be the problem. You might be able to name it but how
much do you know about it. If you made it, usually no problem, but if
it's from a past generation, it may not be that simple. Generally, our
forebears gave little thought, if any, to an intergenerational
communication that would accompany one of their possessions into the
future. To the original owner, the Thing might have been for everyday
use around the house, barn, shop, wherever. Nevertheless, such Things
do acquire uniqueness over time, and even if no longer of practical use,
they represent an individual's , a family's , or a community's history and
perhaps, grandeur.
Cataloging an heirloom rediscovers and records the past and, through
the your memories or of others builds another bridge from the past to
the present. Family history and tradition are enhanced by facts that
emerge in what you can recall from way back when.
Elements to consider in cataloging an heirloom:
The Thing: What it is, and what it's made of. Look at and feel the
watchamacallit if it lets you. Record what you see, feel, smell, hear,
taste (watch that last one), and otherwise sense. If possible, sketch or
photograph the Thing.
Its History: Where and when it was made; where it's been; anecdotes,
legends, evidence of significant events in which it was used or 'was
right there in the middle of that mess,' and the family and community
personalities who were and are associated with it, and in what way.
Its Use and Care: How the original and successive owners used it;
suggested uses for now. (Oldness is not necessarily equated with
uselessness. Right? Right!) Conditioning or preservation: oil it, polish

it, display it away from direct sunlight, put it to work, coddle it, take it
for a walk, just leave it be right where it is, etc.
Many heirlooms eventually find their way into museums, historic
societies, and community archives. Even if they do not, preservation
and conservation are important. To slow an heirloom's deterioration,
store or display them carefully away from harsh artificial lights,
sunlight, heat, and dampness; inspect and restore as required, use
acid-free wrapping paper, and just keep them out of harms way. Visit
museums and historical societies for ideas on how to protect and
display your heirlooms.
What you get in return is personal pleasure, and a store of anecdotes,
history, lore and traditions for grandkids, nieces, nephews, and nearby
and distant family whatever their ages. Photos and sketches, along with
verbal descriptions and commentaries are constituents of tradition and
values-and the finest kind of intergenerational communications.
VALUES AND TRADITIONS
Many older adults have interests other than family. They work, play
golf and other sports, have active social lives and hobbies, and so on.
So, indeed, what's in grandparenting for them?
It depends on how much value a grandparent-and a parent places on
family ties and the need for and the flow of intergenerational
communications. Where family has meaning, interacting with a far
away grandchild adds substance to a 'value'. Then, as the grandparent
ages, communicating with the distant grandchild retains its strength as
a positive force, and enriches the remaining years. It reduces loneliness,
and is an antidote for apathy and depression. Entering grandparenting
with tolerance, constancy, and sincerity adds pleasures to a person's life.
In storytelling, grandparenting invites a call from a distant grandchild
to ' send me another story,' or better yet, 'I've got an idea for a story. Let
me tell you about it.'
The grandchild chose the grandparent over television, computer games
and the many