I'm somewhat a pack rat, but my grandmother never threw anything away except her first husband. When she died, we cleaned out her house, and in the attic was many balls of plain string. There was also a shoe box labeled "Pieces too short to save."

Carol C,I wish I were more like you; I'm too sentimental I guess. I even have a pair of Edsel hubcaps in the original wrappers! Coins from different countries I've been in, the watch my mother gave at high school graduation, my National Defense service medal (from the Korean mis-understanding) old high school year books, ancient photos, commendations from my service in the National Marine Fisheries, and a photo of the patrol boat I captained 40 years ago. I like to break them all out and remember those times because the recent past has been anything but happy.