Replacing Memories

In our last Franktiques Tales, we talked about the dilemma of what to do with all of your family items, and why we feel guilty for getting rid of them. Today, let's look at the other side of the coin- what about those items that you don't have anymore, but wish you still did?

When I was a child, one of my beloved toys was a small Pillsbury Doughboy. Then one day, we were visiting my grandmother at the hospital and sadly, my Doughboy got left behind. Every time I saw a TV commercial for biscuits or crescent rolls, and heard that famous giggle, I thought about it. Then, years later, Pillsbury began making Doughboys again and I bought a new one right away. He still lives in my kitchen.

Anytime you visit an antique store, thrift shop, or even a yard sale, you are likely to find familiar items from your past. Lamps like the ones in your family living room. A leather TV Guide cover like your grandparents had.  And so many books, toys, and dolls that you remember having as a kid. Whatever happened to those?  Did they get lost? Broken? Thrown away? Handed down to younger siblings or cousins?   But now, decades later, it’s tempting to relive those bygone times by picking up a vintage Smurfette figurine, or a Millennial Falcon with nearly all its pieces.  It’s like it was meant for you to come and find it.

First, ask yourself what you will do with it once you get home.  Items like this make great display pieces and conversation starters.  Do you have somewhere to put it, such as a bookshelf or a curio cabinet? Many people are struggling with having too much stuff, so the last thing they need is one more item that’s just going to get packed away or tucked into a dusty corner where it won’t be seen. But if you have the space and having this item is going to make you happy, then you deserve to buy it and take it home.

A few years ago, an item popped up on Facebook marketplace that I just had to have.  It was a Raggedy Ann & Andy metal wastebasket, identical to the one I’d had in my room as a kid. Except mine had stickers all over it that said “Look out for Real People.” I was obsessed with that TV show, and wrote them a letter. They sent me back these stickers, which, for some reason, I felt the best use was to put them on my wastebasket. I contacted the seller, arranged a local meet-up, and the wastebasket was mine.  It was in great shape for something that had been around since the 70’s.  Today I use it as a collection bin for papers that need to be shredded.  It’s serving a practical purpose and I was able to reclaim a small part of my childhood.

When should you walk away from an item that pulls at your nostalgia heartstrings?

• If the item is overpriced or too expensive. You shouldn’t go into debt over a Cabbage Patch Kid.

• The item is dirty or broken. If you really want it, but it’s beyond repair, keep looking until you find one in better shape.

• You don’t have room for it.

Whatever you decide, always remember that physical objects are not memories. Whether or not you still have your old belongings, the memories are still yours to keep forever.

Have you ever found a cherished childhood toy for sale in the wild? Did you bring it home, or leave it for somebody else to find? Tell us about it in the comments!