Author Thomas Wolfe famously stated you can't go home again. However, home can return to you in the form of a baby blue sleeper sofa.
There comes a time in life when parents and children start to shift roles: caregiver, financial advisor, rent free storage locker. Thankfully, power of attorney matters are way down the road for our families. However, parental purging of closets has just begun.
My in-laws face a monumental task as they attempt to downsize from the 150 year-old farm house they've called home since 1972. After all, where does 36 years of stuff spread over three stories go? The short answer: it goes out an open window and into a 40-yard Dumpster. However, that idea probably wouldn't fly with my mother-in-law.
Over the last month, my wife's parents have weighed many heavy decisions -- think solid oak furniture. They've also struggled with sorting boxes of memories exposed on Super 8 film and 35 mm color slides.
The solution is to parcel out these belongings onto their offsprings. After all, they still owe them for those loads of dirty laundry brought home during college.
So now when the in-laws pay a visit they not only bring their wardrobe bag, but my wife's entire wardrobe from the years 1989-1993. It also explains why an artificial Christmas tree stand is rolling around our Jeep in July. I'm never sure what wonders await when my father-in-law pops the minivan hatch -- or how many neighbors it will take to move said wonders into our house.
At least the baby blue sleeper sofa made it downstairs without damaging drywall or friendships.
Luckily my parents sold the house I grew up in years ago; so the contents of those closets already came home to roost. However, I'm fully aware of the bric-a-brac in their current basement that I stand to inherit. Although my sister might want to arm wrestle for the LP record collection.
Perhaps it's not a bad idea to divide precious and pragmatic possessions well before "being of sound mind and body" family gatherings. Although I'm sure this practice could lead to hair-pulling sibling rivalry in some families. Family feuds and lengthy legal battles have erupted over the likes of grandma's hand-me-downs. Especially if those hand-me-downs involve Fortune 500 stock.
Overall the family items being passed down -- after lifting them with both legs -- are purely practical. However, the dogeared childhood books, black and white photos, and handwritten notes from departed relatives carry a value unrelated to dollar signs.
While our daughter is only six years old, it's never too early to start setting aside a few inheritances from her parents. I sure hope she likes her sleeper sofas in the shade of baby blue.
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