Originally Posted by Charlee

The thing that people don't realize is that these tangible items, these heirlooms, don't belong to one person. One person has control of them, but grandma's sewing machine belongs to the family, NOT to the person that has possesion of it. Before I "got rid" of anything that had belonged to my mother, grandmother, etc., I'd ask EVERYONE in the family that I could connect with first...and I'd make sure that they would in turn pass it down...

But then, I'm a genealogists that would KILL to have some of the heirlooms...I have a few...and I'm not even sure that my sons will get them...they may go to nieces or nephews that I think will care more for them...for the sentimental value.

I'm sorry that you ladies have lost those important links to your pasts... I've lost a few of those myself...