Bob: Touchstone is a fine term. And, even though I asked what family keepsakes people have, there are certainly things we keep that belonged to friends or neighbors that bring back good memories. My little fake-bronze bison from the World's Fair brings back memories of the little old lady who lived in the gray house across the street with the shutters permanently nailed down (I suspect) who gave it to me. Jennie Buck. Jennie looked like she was ninety when she was probably still in her 40's. She had a husband, who was a fine cabinet and furniture maker. Funny, even though I love woodworking, I never got to know him. He was just Jennie's husband to me. I liked the old geezer down the street who showed me how to make a ladder out of peach crate ends better.

Jerry