# Tales of unwanted family heirlooms **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 25, 2022, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tales-of-unwanted-family-heirlooms/972202 "2022-09-25T13:10:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2022, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tales-of-unwanted-family-heirlooms/972202/81 "2022-09-29T05:11:06Z")
> [@veryfrank](#): > > Lladro figurines Did they get the Darth Vader one? Tell me they have that. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2022, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tales-of-unwanted-family-heirlooms/972202/82 "2022-09-29T18:19:29Z")
I just want to say that, as I try to declutter, the image of skeet shooting will make me chuckle whenever I have a tough decision: “Wellll, I’d love to keep these, but eventually they’ll just be clay pigeon targets …” ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2022, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tales-of-unwanted-family-heirlooms/972202/83 "2022-09-29T22:40:37Z")
I know a woman who, when her kids were born, was determined to keep all their toys, clothes, schoolwork, etc. but by the time they were in early elementary school, the basement was full and her husband said something needed to be done about it. So, she started to organize it and had a garage sale, but she said that the ROI (i.e. hourly wage) was so small that had she known, she would simply have made multiple trips to local thrift stores. She did keep some very sentimental and reusable things, like their picture books and the outfits they wore home from the hospital. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2022, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tales-of-unwanted-family-heirlooms/972202/84 "2022-09-30T00:05:00Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > The watch lived in Mom’s jewelry box until the antique road shows started showing up and she had it appraised. It turned out to be a cheapo watch back when it was bought during the Depression and had not gained any value with time. My paternal grandfather worked for the railroad for a time, and he had an old railroad pocket watch that my brother inherited. Sadly, it was stolen in a break-in. Apparently, it had a bit more value than most old pocket watches. Also stolen was my dad’s star sapphire ring which I desparately wanted (and would have had re-set). I’m still bummed about those two items. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2022, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tales-of-unwanted-family-heirlooms/972202/85 "2022-09-30T02:24:17Z")
We are in the wrong forum for me to say what I really feel about people who steal valued family memories. I know the sentimental value was much more than the sale value of the watch. If you would like, I could write you into my will and you can have my watch. It doesn’t have any value at all, but it comes with a story. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2022, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tales-of-unwanted-family-heirlooms/972202/86 "2022-09-30T02:43:27Z")
And that’s especially relevant for people who KNEW something had great sentimental value. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2022, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tales-of-unwanted-family-heirlooms/972202/87 "2022-09-30T03:55:35Z")
One of my sisters stole my mother’s engagement ring and traded it for drugs. Mom and Dad were poor when they got married and Mom never upgraded her engagement ring. Sister probably only got a dime bag of speed for it. I have never forgiven. I have no more words I can speak in this forum. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2022, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tales-of-unwanted-family-heirlooms/972202/88 "2022-09-30T18:03:21Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > We are in the wrong forum for me to say what I really feel about people who steal valued family memories. I know the sentimental value was much more than the sale value of the watch. Thanks for the sympathy. Sorry to hear about your mom’s ring. It’s the sentiment the objects hold that make them valuable to me. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2022, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tales-of-unwanted-family-heirlooms/972202/89 "2022-09-30T23:26:53Z")
I had to stop reading the thread because it has brought back memories of stuff I had to let go of because nobody treasured it. Much of it was donated and probably ended in a landfill because donation places can only handle so much. Much went straight to a landfill, some without my brother consulting us first. And some of that was priceless. Mom had intended some furniture to go to my nieces and they, in mid-to-late twenties, still don’t have room for it but claim to want it. Four years ago, I gave them three years to get it or I would sell it. Neither have claimed so I need to ask one last time before bringing it to a consignment shop or donating to the Historical Society. I understand the problem but our parents weren’t aware that their treasures might be our burdens. I still couldn’t look when my dad’s big heavy oak desk was crushed because nobody wanted it - even tried giving it away free. Just sad. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tales-of-unwanted-family-heirlooms/972202.md?page=4)