Dolly Dingle
This weekend was a trip down memory lane, as my brother and I helped our parents excavate treasures (i.e. really old stuff that has not been used in 3+ decades) from their public storage unit.
Several titles whirled around in my head as I sat down to write this post. Titles like…..
“Why do we keep so much STUFF?????”
“My Junk Excavation Weekend”
“Revisiting Popular Items from the 50’s”
“The Great Junk Clean Out”
“Public Storage and Your Junk”
“How Old Junk Can Come Back to Haunt You”
However, I opted for a much more positive title, as you can see, with “Treasures from the Past”.
We uncovered many sentimental items this weekend, and I was able to convince my Mom to bring some of them to her house, instead of housing them in a dusty old storage unit for no one to enjoy.
So, we started on Saturday morning around 9am. As we pulled into the public storage facility, we drove past many storage units with the signature public storage orange color roll up door.
This roll up door reminds me of the steel doors used for large bank safes. The difference is, with public storage, the valuables behind the steel door are typically what most people would consider complete and total junk.
I know that sounds harsh, but seriously, if you haven’t used an item in 20 years, why on earth are you bothering to keep it AND pay a monthly public storage fee to protect an item you are not using or even looking at!
Let me be clear. I am fine keeping items that are sentimental to you as long as you hang the sentimental needlework on a wall to enjoy every day, place your 60 year old doll on a shelf in your living room to smile at every morning, or display the drama trophy your Grandmother won in the mid 1950’s on a shelf to admire…you get the idea.
In other words, at least enjoy your sentimental and smile-inducing items on a daily basis, rather than locking them away. :0
Anyhow…..I digress……
Back to my weekend junk excavation venture……
In my parent’s case, they have been SLOWLY getting rid of items from their past, year after year, over many years, and have successfully moved down two sizes in public storage units. I do have to admit that I am impressed with the smallish size unit they now have versus the very large unit they had 2 years ago.
They decided to enlist myself and my brother to help them de-clutter even more. They know that we both tend to be on the ruthless side, and they recognized the need for more vigilance in the removal of so much stuff in their storage unit.
To give my Mom peace of mind, I took pictures of many of her sentimental items, and this made the parting process much easier to take.
I put together a photo book last night at shutterfly with photos of her precious items, and I assured her that flipping through the book of photos is just as good as having the physical items. Most of the physical items were only causing her stress with the weight of knowing that she has so much clutter to go through at the storage unit.
I’m going to share a few of those photos below. Ready to take a stroll back to the 1950s, 60s, 70s, and 80s? Here you go….
Board Games from the 80’s and Joker from Batman high tops
Peter and Penny (two of my Mom’s dolls from the late 1940’s) and my Annie Doll from the 80’s
I used to LOVE this pitcher and cup set. My Mom decided to keep this for a tea time set in the grandkid’s toy room. I’m ok with that.
Do you remember these glasses from McDonald’s happy meals in the 70’s? I was able to take home 3 caspers and 3 winnie the poohs for my little ones to use. They were in new condition.
Remember the old 31 Flavors cups? Well, my parents do and they have kept it as well as a good and plenty box for several decades. Why?? Yes, I convinced them to part with these items.
My Mom’s first camera. Guessing this was purchased in late 1940s, early 1950s.
My parents first video camera from the 1980s. Wow, why would you keep this? Snapped a photo, and Mom was ok to finally release.
The Good ‘ol Smith Corona Electric Typewriter. Boy, I’m glad we saved this, since it is so useful today. 🙂
Two of my Mom’s most beloved dolls: Susie and Dolly Dingle
My Mom’s first shaving kit. I couldn’t believe she still had this…..now its a beautiful photo in her photo book. 🙂
The Modern Manicure set that “makes glamorous hands possible for everyone”. 🙂 Glad we kept this in storage for 50+ years.
Don’t you love 50’s packaging? So cool.
Billy Beer was created in July of 1977 by Jimmy Carter’s younger brother. At one point in history, they were thought to be a valuable collector’s item. Unfortunately, they are worthless.
On the can, there is a quote from Billy Carter that reads:
“Brewed expressly for and with the personal approval of one of America’s all-time great beer drinkers, Billy Carter. I had this beer brewed up just for me. I think it’s the best I ever tasted. And I’ve tasted a lot. I think you’ll like it, too.”
Pretty Funny. 🙂
SO glad my Mom kept these awesome shoes. This is one case, where if you keep something long enough, it will eventually come back in style. Broadway now has these shoes in her closet and LOVES them. They are just her size and she’s thinking of dressing in a 60s costume for Halloween. Perfect Timing! 🙂
This is what Baby Doll Toys looked like in the late 1940s. 🙂
This was a wedding gift for my parents back in the mid 1960s. These items were never used and still have the tags on them. My parents are not coffee drinkers, but aren’t the pots pretty?
Had to share the packaging for the percolator from the mid 1960s. 🙂
This book just cracked us up. We uncovered this towards the end of our second day of excavation. Its a book that is filled with craft project ideas to put together with old stuff you’ve been hanging onto. We had to hang onto this little gem. If for nothing else than its comedic value. 🙂
So, there you have it, a short photo trip of my weekend of going through old stuff.
We found some great items that my parents will bring back to their house and enjoy and admire on a daily basis.
We got rid of a LOT of old stuff that my parents finally agreed to let go of, as long as we took a photo.
We must have cleared out at least 40 boxes, easily, in our two day venture. It really felt great.
Knowing that an 85 page shutterfly photo book filled with snapshots of her treasures is on its way to her doorstep, my Mom is doing great.
She will still be able to admire her treasures, just in a much more consolidated, efficient, and space saving fashion.
It was a very fun and productive weekend, indeed. 🙂
Leave a Reply