I have a box of bills.

[Maggot]

Well I should say I have an old suitcase full of bills. They are from 1928-1943 they come from hairdressers, flower shops, oil companies, mortgage companies, life insurance people, veteran affairs, magazine subscriptions etc. They sit in the suitcase and every once in a while I take them out. I spread them around and read them. I go back in time and get a picture in my mind of life in my Grandparents time.
When I moved into my house it was like moving into a house that was just walked away from. Stuff was everywhere and it took my quite a few years to sort through it all. Old games, guns, furniture was everywhere. The cellar had a path that lead to the laundry and the walls of crap lined the path. Now I know why Cracker hates shit like that, but I embraced it. After tossing all kinds of shit like lobster left in the freezer for 10 yrs and wine with cobwebs on it the place is finally becoming what I want it to be, free of junk
So tonight I broke out the suitcase and fell back into the past. Many things have changed but still they are the same.
I guess my question is...........Should I toss the suitcase? What good is it except for me on occasion to be reading the contents and wandering about. I think its a great reminder of the depression, prohobition and attitude from 1928 tillthe late 40's. It's reciepts, and all kinds of shit. Cracker should I toss it? I wanna say fuck you and put it back in the corner so I can take it out again 3-4 months down the road.


The end

[BlueTiki]

I'm not Cracker, but why toss it if you can sell it?

[Maggot]

I'm not Cracker, but why toss it if you can sell it?

I would not even know how to sell the stuff. A reciept from a store in 1932 for lettuce and meat. How the heck do you sell that?

[Lady Cop]

my parents had a HUGE old steamer trunk in attic when i had to clean out their home. everything, even WWII love letters. i sorted it all, dispersed it to my brother and sister and would never get rid of any of it although i know in 50 more years it will all be in some landfill. keep what makes you nostalgic and brings fond memories.

now i have a similar big collection of my stuff and wonder where it will end up.
actually i have started burning some things in the fireplace.

[BlueTiki]

How the heck do you sell that?

Do a little research.

I've got a boatload of Confederate War (cotton) Bonds.

And soldiers' letters with drawings.

You're right . . . the bonds obviously aren't going to be honored and Burns has said everything we need to know about the Civil War.

Thanks . . . I'll toss 'em.

[Maggot]

Stuff is interesting, even the small stuff I guess the more years that pass by the more important the dumb stuff becomes. Day in day out activities become interesting. History books do not do real life justice.

[BlueTiki]

Some authors and playwrights comb through a box and create stories.

Know any writers?

[Lady Cop]

let sentiment rule. i know you will, you like the past too much. so do i.

i know my sons will treasure all the cards from them and family photos i saved. that's not what i'm using for kindling.

heck Maggot, i have my Dad's 1^st grade report card from an Italian school circa 1926.

[Maggot]

Thats cool...........there is a grade school card from 1928 in there. The kid got d's in everthing it was 5^th grade. But I think he was on a farm also. His parents probably thought that meant Doctor.

[Harvest Moon]

Keep the suitcase and all the papers inside! My grandmother was the type that never kept anything. Aside from wonderful memories of an amazing woman, the only thing I have that was hers is a small sewing box with her crafting supplies in it. It sides proudly on a shelf in my living room.

If you do decide to get rid of them, at least scan them and save them on your computer along with a backup CD. As, others have said, there might be a market out there for those little pieces of history. Is there a historical society in your town? They might be interested.

I'd love to sit down and go through a box like that, even if it wasn't from my own family!

[Cracker]

Donate it to your local museum or historical society, Maggot. Or ask a local college history dept if they want it. You have primary documents that probably have value to somebody.

Paper your man room with them. Mix a little liquid starch with water and stick the fuckers to the walls.

Maybe put them in a scrapbook and sell the suitcase. Old suitcases smell funny but I see people using them for decoration all the time...

[Misguided]

Tiki...I dont know if your serious about tossing away that stuff but if you are,...I sure would be interested in getting those items off of you.I was always interested in the Civil War and would like to check it all out..

[Eat Shit And Die]

Sometimes i feel like im in a flock of Storks, everytime i turn around there is a big bill in front of me.

[IMaDick]

Find the family and give them their shit back.

it more than likely would only mean something to them.

[Duchess]

They mean something to Maggot. He should keep them & continue to do what he has been doing with them, get stoned & pull them out every few months to look at them.

[IMaDick]

I wasn't exactly talking about entertainment value.

I was talking about real meaning.

I have found a few things with my metal detector that I could identify the family on and returned them to the decendants, they were really glad to have things from their family that they never knew existed.

Sometimes it's more satisfying than having shit sit around in a jar.

[Maggot]

In the pile of stuff is a notebook that has a bunch of hand written dance steps, moves. The date at the beginning is Nov 24^th 1931. That must have been the grandmother.
Dick I would probably give this stuff back but they are all dead or I do not know where the kids are.

Some dance titles are "skaters tap" "dance of the roses" 'andantimo" "sewing basket" "elastic kitten"


I'm stumped with elastic kitten but there is a bunch of dance steps after it like right foot down, turn half way, take a measure, left arm crossed in front of breast, slowly lower arms to skirt.


...........funky stuff .

[Maggot]

I gave the box to my daughter she is doing a project at school and was all excited when i showed it to her. I'm just glad someone will use it. It's been a few years.