My Parents AtticText Box: The attic. It is a place of storage, convenience, and mystery. A place you sometimes cannot live without, and sometimes can ignore for a great long time. My parents house has an attic. It is not an attic with a square ceiling pop up access, but it is one with a full staircase. It has a large center chimney running through the middle of it, and is divided into two rooms. The first (above) has exposed rafters and a single light bulb. The second room has a arched plaster ceiling. It is very odd. Some speculate it was a Mason meeting room, but, we don’t really know... Now my parents attic is like going on an archeological dig. There are things from everybody’s past... Text Box: Here is my Dad’s army hat, and his original Lionel train from the 40’s. My children are forbidden to touch look or breathe on.

This cooked the turkey.

No.  Really.

Mom’s original Davy

Crockett

Lunch box

Could be fixed

A music box my step grandmother gave me in 7th grade.

Dressy Bessy circa 1973

My Yogi the bear sheets from kindergarten provide covered protection for treasured items.  This Peanuts radio my grandma gave me when I was in the 4th grade.  I scoff at iPods!! 

The book on the left may have inspired my artistic talent (circa 1967), shown in the above painting from high school (circa 1986)...clearly, woodshop, not my thing…(below)

I found this dime saver from my great Granny.  I don’t know exactly how old it is, but you may be able to see the phone numbers from Northern Va without area codes!

Every lunch box from my life.  My favorite?  Dynomutt and the Peanuts.

I also have my original Scooby Doo lunch box which was plastic.  I remember it was broken within a week, then I got the peanuts one...but I still wanted to carry the broken one, because it was ScD!  Then, we also have the coke collection from various ‘collector sets’—yum.

Souveniers!

When my brother was born, my mom was into this...colonial phase.  We bought this house, and this stroller...which she DID tote him around in.  Then there is his bassinette which, truly, needs to go now… but keep the tent mom...

Then we have various collections from my mother’s ceramics days.  The piece above is my brother’s inheritance. 

Because you never know when Atari may make a comeback...we have original games.

My brother always loved Ernie

My brothers cash register

Which served the kids well during a lemonade stand one summer!

Then there is the zube tube, given to Jonathan from my Aunt...it torchured us completely one Christmas, and still does when my kids discover it.

Not to be confused with the pretty good sticker album.

Wet suit, circa 1975

I am pretty sure this is the dress my mom wore to  my wedding...19 years ago.  I know it will be my job to put it in the dumpster some day.  But for now...it is well cared for...by mice.

Then there is the stash of ’old school’ items...like the one I was interested in...SLR picture manual, from 1976.  The encyclopedias that my great grandmother bought for my Dad circa 1950’s

Just in case digital cameras and computers don’t last...

jewelry

Unpublished works

It should be noted that the attic, while very full of various items, is all clearly marked. 

SEASONAL

Mom’s ‘just in case’ place.

Well, mostly…

Occasionally you come across a box with chopsticks and funnels.

The mysteries of the attic hold the kids attention daily, for our entire visit.  One mystery that has never been solved is this strange room in the attic.  The curved roof and even the message scribed on the wall upstairs remains a wonder to all.  But it is a cool and interesting part of my parents house!

HOME

Little people castle Aunt Theresa gave me when I was five.  I was probably already chewing gum by then.  Possibly the most played with toy of my childhood.

Old School

I am not kidding Jon, this is yours.

My mother has even got boxes for Jon and I that cannot be opened until her death.