The last in this series as I am journeying back to my other life today and will need to find a different theme.
The items discovered are now tucked away back in the cupboard where they were found, in a cardboard box marked "do not throw away" and signed by my sister. She was so upset that Dad chose to clear out a dress for which our Mother had made intricate lacework on the collar and which she had worn for her graduation. It still causes her great distress.
At 60 plus, you would have thought that any items belonging to her and of value to her would have been transferred to her own home by now. But perhaps I am too harsh.
Certainly, we are both agreed that the treasure in the box must not be discarded, but it does not belong to us - yet.
helen, what treasure you have here. i say, don't throw them, don't discard them at any cost. you have a great talent for writing and someday, when the opportunity comes for you to write a novel, these can be your references. they are priceless. i kept some of the letters and musings of my ex's mother (musings as in gossips around the village where she grew up) and one just have to be really creative and imaginative to use those in some ways. yay! beautiful composition, enough for us to see some of the texts but not giving them all away, and the juxtaposition with the porcelain for texture. aces!
These are definitely keepers and it sounds like you and your sister have made sure they will stay where they belong. After my father passed and things were being cleared out I asked my sister, "Where is the green trunk with mom's wedding dress in it?" There was silence on her part. Yes, you guessed it. She tossed the trunk because it was seriously crushed on the top but never bothered to look inside. Protect what you can- and now you have some lovely photos to cherish them by as well.
@summerfield these letters were breathtakingly revealing to me and I devoured them into the night and then carefully packed them away as the time is not right to do anything with them. Thank you for all your interest and comments on this series.