I guess the oldest would be the matched sets of family Bibles. On from my Dad's family and in German. Has a listing of all my family from about 1800 on hand written pages in the center part for births and deaths. The other from my Mother's family and in English and from the early 1800s - same info and in the same manner. Both are huge books - and have heavy wooden covers on them.

The rest are tools - tools are my weakness. If I had to choose between tools and Ol Mose I'd choose the tools as I could build another guitar with them.

And my Grandma's old Oak hutch - she used to keep pictures of all her children and grandchildren on it - we do the same with it. The 22 rifle my Dad bought from the J.C. Penny's catalogue for $13 when he was a kid - my son has it now. And his old Harmony guitar - my son now has that also and is beginning to play again.

But what is more important than any of the material things is the ethics I carry with me from them. "What do you think of this post hole Grandpa - nice and straight and deep." "I'm still earning my own honest way Dad." "I love my country very much Great great great Grandfather Tawney." "I don't lie to gain things Mom." "I believe in God Grandma." "I obey the law when the law is right and good." "I believe in helping others but not at the expense of myself - for if I am gone who can I help?"

Just a few of the things I hold dear to me.

I had to think about this before I posted Jerry - great thread

Steve