I was cleaning out some of my uncles things.......

[Historic NY]

this morning and came across several birthday greeting from "big dawg" and old "uncle Mario", on the occasion of his 80th birthday. He only passed on the 11th and I am sad because we have gone through many of his things. I've tossed some old clothes, mostly out of date or worn out. Lots of old shoes, some from the pants suit days but he never ever had one. I separated things into what I will keep and for his 91 yrs he really didn't accumulate a lot of stuff. I sent him on his journey with his favorite jewelry items that he always wore. I thought it would be strange to keep them, since I always remembered him wearing them. I will see if his brother wants a couple of his good winter coats and suits and the rest will go to charity. I have more crap then he had and its taken over the house, from my library to my 18th century downstairs. He had his office furniture and a favorite chair (which I was replacing again as a Christmas present, he never got)a bedroom set he bought as a Christmas present for his wife (my aunt)back in 1969, but not much else. A friend at work is buying the bedroom set, minus the queen mattress/box spring for her daughter. He never had great wealth, but from the measure of family photos, he lived life, like he did. I find it funny, but him and I both were savers and I beat him with savings. I always remember him as a kid giving us a quarter or fifty cent piece. He would always try to guess how much change I collected in a year, when I rolled it. I'm still a little down since my (his) house is now empty. I've been thinking of getting another pet, perhaps a dog (cats like me but I think its there way of just trying to piss me off) they will not leave me alone. I've decided to use his room the largest in the house as my office/library and to convert the old one into a single bedroom. So many things to do to reclaim a regular life and routine. It still makes me sad when I can't find him or hear him in the house. I've tired cooking for one and it just doesn't work. Sorry for the lengthy post, just thoughts running around in the old noggin.

[shesemsmom]

It is hard to go through things of a loved one

I have done it 3 times in my life. My Hubby's , my best friend and my Grandmother. But while going through those things, I have also had so terrific memories brought back too. My thoughts are with you as you do this.

[BikeWriter]

1. Hang in there, NY!

He'd have wanted you to carry on.

[izzie]

2. I had an odd thing happen

My mother in law was with me in her last year, pretty old. Mid 80's and I found her junking all those old papers and pictures. I had a fit but all she would say is they are mine and they are all dead. I had seen many of them over the years, with papers when they came into the country and all that and they were all gone. I could hardly believe she had done it.

[izzie]

3. Ahd by the way the rest of her family were wild at me.

Said I keep all their old stuff. They would not believe she junked it either.

[blueknight]

4. he was a lucky man,

to have a nephew like you. i hope he didn't suffer long. seems like he was a good uncle, much like my uncles were. RIP

[Historic NY]

5. Thanks, he went peaceful in his own home, I had help from hopsice...

and a private nurse. I just down because it is also the anniversery of my own fathers death 36yrs ago. Holiday blues and all.

[SmokingJacket]

6. Sounds like you helped him have a good life and a good death.

Peace to you.

[wellstone dem]

7. God bless you

You have honored your elders. You have grown as a result. His wisdom has touched you, and you have shared that wisdom with us and others. Now his spirit lives on.