One of the best (and worst) things about packing up a house you/your family has lived in for 50 years is finding things you held onto, thinking you’d value them so you couldn’t get rid of them.
Well, I’ve found a ton of stuff. Some mine, some my brother’s, a ton of mom’s. Not so many of Dad’s things.
Among my things was a little autograph book from when I finished Junior High – Ursuline School in Athens.
The poor little book was falling apart but I photographed the autographs for posterity. A lot of these people I don’t remember or have lost touch with over the years, some I’m lucky enough to still have in my life.
Peter Pontikos is still in touch with my brother. 
Valerie is still one of my besties! 
Ditto for Jeffrey! 
And Zina. I had stayed in touch with Christine as well but she passed away. 😦 
I can’t remember who RJ is but I hope he’s ok. 
My darling brother!
One thing I always say is that I never win things. As in luck. I have won lots in my life, but always for work I’ve done. This was the second thing I won in my life – an essay competition.
That same year I won a drawing competition for an animal welfare society with a poster showing a puppy who just wanted a loving home. We never got the poster back. Mom still laments its loss.
Today was another day of packing and stacking. Well emptying cupboards and piling up things for mom to sort through. I am trying to be ruthless but you know mothers… I have to make sure I’m not giving away anything she wants to keep. So I piles tuff for her to check out. And only toss out what is obviously not worth keeping.
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junk4joy 
I wish I had some relics of mine, but my mom was a ruthless de-clutterer! I do, however, have the baby name book that my name came from! I treasure it, but it’s packed away with old photographs – things that I have to go through! It isn’t easy for you, I’m sure!
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