Why is Staring at a Knick Knack Shelf so Greatly Comforting

Growing up my mom was an avid garage sale consumer.  She had a group of friends that went every Friday morning.  They would map out the best routes and the best areas for garage sales.  They knew which ones to avoid (those that buy their stuff from other garage sales, take them home and add profit) and which ones most likely would have the best finds.

I went with mom and her friends many times and although it was mostly boring for me, I did enjoy looking for my own treasures some of the time.  I usually had two or three dollars of my “own” money that I could spend.

As I grew older I learned to appreciate some of the unique items my mom found.  Each one told a story and was a part of someone’s history. I have several “knick-knack” shelves in my house.  As you can see in the pictures, they are filled priceless worldly possessions (I assume they are priceless to someone….) and there are times I enjoy staring at them and remembering how or why I have them.  Some are carryover from my mom’s garage sale days and some are trinkets I have acquired in my travels.

Each one tells a story that means something to me personally.  Do they mean the same thing to my kids……NO, and that is okay.  I have showed them to both of kids and on many occasions given them the background story on the item. For some reason, I hope they mean as much to the kids as they do to me.  They don’t nor should they.  These mementos are from my past, not theirs.  I do hope after I am gone, the kids will pick their favorites to keep and the rest will go into a huge estate garage sale.  That way, the keepsakes can make a full circle and become part of another person’s Knick knack shelf.

What is on your Knick Knack Shelf?  I would enjoy seeing what you collect.  Send me a picture via Facebook or email: randall.bogden@townsquaremedia.com If I get enough pictures I will put a Gallery together and add it to the story