Gifts for more than just the graduate
My busy Saturday ended up netting me some special items, and my dad as well, even though he didn't attend the party. He spent all last week sick after coming home from his buddy's farm, so we felt it was better that he didn't go, what with an infant and the elderly in attendance.
Speaking of the elderly, my grandfather, in his never-ending attempt to clear out his house, ended up bringing a couple bags of items for more than just my cousin. He had a bag for me and a bag for my father. Dad got tools and other boy-type goodies. I got a box. Well, not just any box--it was something my grandfather came across while looking for the title to his car, which he's in the process of disposing, you could say. The box belonged to his father and had a number of family mementos in it.
I got the bag right when my grandparents left, as grandma reminded my middle cousin to go fetch the bags from their hiding spot upstairs, and right after they left I ended up going through the box--with my mom and cousin-in-law, of all people. He tore right into the envelope with the key in it. (Thanks, dude; it's not like I was going to put the key back in there to make sure it got home safely, but whatever.) I was a little surprised until I realized this is his baby's heritage, so it is of importance, and as we talked it sounds like he is interested in genealogy and hopes to look up his own heritage when he gets a chance.
Some of the items in the box:
--Pictures of my grandfather's grandfather, whom I'd never before seen.
--The topper to my great-grandparents' wedding cake from 1925, two little birds, still pretty intact. (!)
--The letter my great-uncle sent after he was in the attack in Pearl Harbor--very short, but reassuring, as it was the first any of his family heard of him since it happened, and my grandfather said they received it several weeks later.
--A letter addressed to my grandfather's sister, who was born and died before he was born. It's proof of her existence, which I didn't have before, and it gave her full name; I was able to plug the name into my tree online and it led me to birth and death records for her, or at least where to find them. She was born and died in 1927. My grandfather didn't even know that.
--My great-grandfather's wallet, including his social security card, driver's license, and...three whole dollars! Whee! That's a $1 bill and a $2 bill. He died just weeks after I was born.
--Several report cards of my grandfather's. He was a solid B student in grade school but had trouble with promptness. Also, his posture was bad enough to warrant sending home a letter suggesting he see the family physician.
It was really interesting and amusing--I tell you, those 70+-year-old report cards are a kick--and informative as well. I spent a portion of yesterday scanning stuff. I still have more to go.
Speaking of the elderly, my grandfather, in his never-ending attempt to clear out his house, ended up bringing a couple bags of items for more than just my cousin. He had a bag for me and a bag for my father. Dad got tools and other boy-type goodies. I got a box. Well, not just any box--it was something my grandfather came across while looking for the title to his car, which he's in the process of disposing, you could say. The box belonged to his father and had a number of family mementos in it.
I got the bag right when my grandparents left, as grandma reminded my middle cousin to go fetch the bags from their hiding spot upstairs, and right after they left I ended up going through the box--with my mom and cousin-in-law, of all people. He tore right into the envelope with the key in it. (Thanks, dude; it's not like I was going to put the key back in there to make sure it got home safely, but whatever.) I was a little surprised until I realized this is his baby's heritage, so it is of importance, and as we talked it sounds like he is interested in genealogy and hopes to look up his own heritage when he gets a chance.
Some of the items in the box:
--Pictures of my grandfather's grandfather, whom I'd never before seen.
--The topper to my great-grandparents' wedding cake from 1925, two little birds, still pretty intact. (!)
--The letter my great-uncle sent after he was in the attack in Pearl Harbor--very short, but reassuring, as it was the first any of his family heard of him since it happened, and my grandfather said they received it several weeks later.
--A letter addressed to my grandfather's sister, who was born and died before he was born. It's proof of her existence, which I didn't have before, and it gave her full name; I was able to plug the name into my tree online and it led me to birth and death records for her, or at least where to find them. She was born and died in 1927. My grandfather didn't even know that.
--My great-grandfather's wallet, including his social security card, driver's license, and...three whole dollars! Whee! That's a $1 bill and a $2 bill. He died just weeks after I was born.
--Several report cards of my grandfather's. He was a solid B student in grade school but had trouble with promptness. Also, his posture was bad enough to warrant sending home a letter suggesting he see the family physician.
It was really interesting and amusing--I tell you, those 70+-year-old report cards are a kick--and informative as well. I spent a portion of yesterday scanning stuff. I still have more to go.