Heirlooms

My grandfather and uncle are moving out of their old house, the same house where my mom and her siblings grew up, and into a smaller apartment in the village. Since my grandmother passed away, the old house has been too big for the 2 of them and difficult to manage, even with a helper. It has been, as of last Wednesday, November 2, exactly 3 years since my grandmother passed, so it seems just about time to "move on."

This afternoon my brother and I went over there to help Papa, our grandfather, sort out and pack up over 50 years worth of memories in the house. Our aunt, my mom's youngest sister, was there to help as well. We picked out our favorites from and split their rather large collection of china; heirlooms which Mama, our grandmother herself passed down to my mom and aunt long ago. Papa also gave us some of their old furniture, interior decorations, and other mementos he and Mama got from the many places they traveled to back in the day. There's this one 4-piece painting of sorts of the seasons that hung on the wall in their living room, right above their couch. I've always liked it and enjoyed looking at it whenever I'd visit or stay with my grandparents as a little girl. So did my parents apparently. Now we can hang it on our own wall as Papa willingly gave it to me when I asked if we could have it for our house. He also told me how they got it from Vietnam! My aunt got this old table from the living room which, until today, I did not know was actually an old sewing machine!! Imagine my surprise haha! And my brother got some of Mama and Papa's old lighters, matches and ash trays. He was also actually trying to ask for this big old figurine of Confucius, for his room I guess haha, but Papa did not want to give it away since it was a wedding gift to him and Mama. For a split second, though, I think he was willing to think about giving it away. Papa's generous and sweet like that haha. But of course my brother, understanding its sentimental value, urged him to keep the figurine for his new home. We also got some of their old cassette tapes of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, The Conniffs, and the like. My brother and I are kind of suckers for old, vintage stuff like that.

We are far from finished packing; there's still a lot left to box up and move tomorrow (and well into the weekend, probably), including Mama's clothes. But at least we got started already. I think everyone in the family had been thinking about all this and worrying about where to start this past month or two. I mean moving out isn't exactly easy, especially if you've lived in the same house for over 50 years. How could you just box everything up and leave, right? Naturally, there were moments while we were packing up when Papa would turn reminiscent. He'd remember where, when and why they got whatever it was we were holding. Then he'd tell us about letting go and how we just need to do it sometimes. It was his way of coping with all this, I guess. Seeing him like that was not my favorite part of the day. But, like I told him, at least he doesn't have to let go of it all completely. He'll still see these things when he comes to visit our house or my aunt's.. And even without them, he'll always have memories of the good old days with Mama. He can always just look back and remember how he and his family had been blessed with and through such a phenomenal woman. Then he can look forward to making new good old days with us! :)

I never imagined we would have to do this, pack up Mama and Papa's old house and sell it to someone who's turning it into a business, a restaurant or something. A few times over the years we'd ask what would happen to it when we grow up but we never really talked about it because it was unthinkable. I guess at the back of our heads we just thought this house was always going to be there and be ours.

Packing up today was not easy both physically and emotionally. But it's nice to receive heirlooms, to have something of your family's to keep for years, especially your favorites. And it's nice to know that when things change, when we grow up and move on, we don't have to completely let go of everything. We'll always have these things and our family to help us look back at the good old days and look forward to more. That cliche' is very true.