During our 49 years of marriage, my wife and I have collected many items, though none as extravagant or valuable as a Honus Wagner or Babe Ruth baseball card, or original works by Rembrandt or Picasso. Instead, we focused on gathering more meaningful treasures, such as homemade Christmas cards from our kids, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day cards, and ornaments from our family tree.
We have collected refrigerator magnets from various places we’ve traveled, spending countless hours browsing through rows of tables at flea markets, garage sales, fundraising events, and similar venues. Notable finds include Depression glass and various bric-a-brac for our yard and curio cabinet. However, our most treasured collectibles are the eclectic items that have been given to us over the years. For example, we have my wife’s great-grandmother’s Theodore Haviland French Limoges China set, which is a service for twelve, along with the China cabinet to display it. We also own her aunt’s and uncle’s mid-19th-century Theodore Starr grandfather clock, as well as other assorted household items.
During our youth, we both had those classic penny collectible folders. I often wish I had held on to my baseball cards instead of losing them by flipping them for other cards or, even worse, using them as close pins for my bike spokes. Among the many things I lost and will never see again were 45 records and LPs from original bands and labels, marbles, comic books, games, and the toys of my childhood. I’m sure my wife would also love to have her favorite dolls, teddy bears, records, and similar keepsakes!
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