Well, as I said earlier, I've made some headway in getting rid of some of my stuff (including my prom dress that went eons ago, which, I found out in another thread may be worth big bucks now...

). But now I know that I am emotionally attached to a lot of my things. Along with my grandma, my Aunt Jean was a pivotal person in my life. As an example of her influence upon me, when I was from 5 to 10 years old, we lived thousands of miles apart. Each December, we (the 4 kids in our family) would wait with baited anticipation for her Christmas parcel to arrive. When the large brown paper and string wrapped parcel came, it was opened by my mother with us all standing around it. Inside there would be six exquisitely wrapped parcels; one for each of us and one pretty box of baked goods. Not only was each present beautifully, artfully wrapped, but there would always be something extra affixed to the top, along with the ribbon and a beautiful bow. One year in particular stands out. My parcel had a Laura Secords "book" of life-saver rolls attached to it. Laura Secords was (don't know if they still are) a chocolate/candy company extraordinaire! I loved life savers (especially the butterscotch ones) and couldn't believe my eyes or luck to have all the different kinds in one "life saver book". Her gifts were always thoughtful...like a jewelry box I received one year, that played "Swan Lake" while a little ballerina twirled round and round. After we had moved much closer, we would be invited for "sleep-overs" at my Aunt's. She would always make a fuss over us. For instance, she would "roll" butter pat spheres with a criss-cross design for our blueberry and syrop pancakes and fresh-squeezed orange juice, which were served to us on a pretty china breakfast set. She would also set her wrought iron patio table with her sterling silverware for us kids to use. She made us feel like kings and queens. Such wonderful memories.
Too late to make a long story short

, but to try to get to the point of my "tome", I am now the caretaker of that Louis XV silverware, along with numerous silver plate pieces that I remember seeing and using as a pampered guest in her home; as well as many other pieces that I can't seem to let go of. Someone here said that no one uses china any more. I don't imagine that silver is often used any more either. I know I rarely use it, even at the Holidays.
To make matters worse, I've collected chaffing dishes (several different ones), beautiful salad bowls, plates, platters and other things over the years. I know I'll hardly, if ever, use all this stuff. I think, in part, I keep this stuff around me to keep these wonderful childhood memories in tact

What to do?! I think this is a rhetorical post

Perhaps it will provide cathartic relief!
