So I thought I'd try something new today to break from the monotony of my "I'm freaking out because I'm moving 800 miles away" posts. We'll see how this goes.
Basically I've moved about a billion times in my life, okay at last count, around twelve. Eight with my family, military brat remember? And four with the Professor. Yes four in four years! Not sure how since we've lived here for three. We moved twice in our first year and this is our fourth. There, that adds up, right? So, I'm a pro at moving at this point. I've already gone through the whole "distance yourself from everyone you know so that the move is less painful" thing, done and done. Now I'm just in the "lets get this done" part. This involves a lot of packing. And before I pack, I always to my pre-pack purge. No, that has nothing to do with weight loss, I assure you.
One by one I've gone through all the rooms here and just sorted out junk. Strangely enough, I love to throw crap away, it makes me feel really good. Batman's room was hit the hardest, I had a whole carload full of toys that I took to Goodwill. His clothes, baby books and baby bedding are going into storage. (You know, just in case.) I found in his closet several of my own storage boxes that I've hauled with me these past four years. So I decided to crack them open and see what was inside so that I could sort through them, and label them accordingly. I know, I need help.
In these boxes I was please to find a number of mementos from my childhood European travels. (Sounds fancy huh?) My parents basically dragged us all over Europe when my dad was stationed in England and Germany. We were always allowed to get one thing from the gift shops or markets as a souvenir. And I have hung onto mine all these years.
Oh yeah, pictures! (You know, in case you don't believe me.)
Cool huh? You can tell at the time these were collected by a 8-12 year old girl right?
From left to right, starting at the back row. Teapot from Poland. Handmade doll, brought to me by one of my friends from Turkey. Polish horse. "Matryoshka" or nesting dolls from Russia, I bough these at a market in Germany though, never been to Russia. Painted vase from Rota, Spain, given to me by a friend. Cherry bowl, from Italy. Hand carved, wooden "Love Spoons" from Wales. Marble egg, from Carrera, Italy. Painted egg cup from Bavaria, Germany. Cup and saucer from Poland. Cup and saucer from England, Royal Dalton china. Tea set from England. Carved, round box from Poland. Alabaster box from Italy. Cup and saucer from Poland. Cup and saucer from Holland. Miniature wooden shoes from Poland. Tea pot from Germany.
I can't believe I remember where I got every single item. I guess that's the point of souvenirs, right?
There's one more thing. When I was living overseas I actually became quite the collector...of thimbles. It sounds really funny, but over there it was a pretty common souvenir item, you could get a thimble with anything on it. I even have a few with the Queen Mum herself! Check them out... no I won't go through all of them, there are far too many. Forty-one, I think.
3 comments:
It's cool that you have mementos of your time in Europe.
My dad was in the military too and we spent 3 years in Germany. I was only a pre-schooler then and the only memento I have is a memory of the slide at the playground. It was blue.
LOL. You had pretty good taste for an 8-12 year old. A few of those items would fit in with my china collection.
As far as the thimbles go...I sort of collect slug memorabilia, so who am I to judge.
Hey! I have a Love Spoon from Wales too! Bought it when I was in Cardiff a few years ago. Sounds like you're moving right along with the decluttering.
P.S. Any takers on the washer/dryer?
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