My parents have lived in the same house since 1975. Their basement is nicknamed “King Tut’s Tomb” as it has slowly accumulated ‘treasures’ and looks as organized. My last trip home revealed “The Tomb” is getting worse; one could hardly walk around all the items.  

Some of the objects go back to the 40s and 50s, leftovers from their parents’ homes.

There are items from childhood of every one of their children.

There are remnants of my father’s office after he retired.

There is father’s vast model train lay out.

There are boxes of saved books, plaques, photos, and unused appliances.  

On the positive, it is pleasant go through it, pick up something, and remember. Last time in the Tomb I found the entire set of “Alfred Hitchcock and the 3 Investigators” mystery series. I also found an ashtray I made for my grandfather; it made me think of him. 

On the negative, it alarms me what will happen when my parents pass away.We four kids are going to inherit this hoard and will have to clear it out. I’ve prompted the parents to start cleaning it out but they either never get around to it or don’t want to throw anything out (I’ve suspected they assume that is ‘our job’ to do).  

Brother #3 is clever and can put some of it on Ebay. The Star Wars figurines and Walt Disney comic books from the 50s could get a good price.  

But will we feel obliged to keep it all?  Our childhood items, our parents’ things, and some things going back to the grandparents will be challenging to let go.   The award plaques and framed diplomas mean nothing to us but we’ll feel guilty to toss them out, so we will keep them; our children will feel even more guilty to discard them as they will be so old – so useless things get passed down from generation to generation like a bad gene. 

The 4ft x 4ft faded coloured photograph (fair condition at best) of great-grandfather isn’t something you just toss readily into the trash. But who has a wall upon which to hang it?  

So King Tut’s tomb waits – probably until the parents pass and we are forced to deal with it.

Anybody want a pinball machine or a pachinko machine?