Category Archives: Things

Declutter 2017: The Hamburger Pencil Holder

Emotions, Things, ,

Except for a misplaced electric wire, our basement remodel is complete. We spent this afternoon putting items back where they belong and deciding what to toss, what to donate and what to keep. It is very hard to me to get rid of things because …what if I will need it in the future even though I have not used it in two decades and it is beginning to rust? (toss) …but that was my mom’s! (keep)  …maybe someday I will find a record player that plays 78s! (keep for now).

So, apparently, there is a book that says if you hold an item and it gives you joy keep it, if not get rid of it (or something like that we have a copy of the book but I cannot find it so I have not read it yet). Some of the things I held today definitely did not bring me joy (toss), but some did (keep). One of the items that I held today was a gift from my favorite student ever whose mom is my favorite mother of a student ever. It gives me a lot of joy because of who gave it to me.

It is unique and kitschy and  full of memories and I want to keep it but since I really don’t use pencils or pens that much anymore, I really don’t use the pencil holder. It has sat, empty, for years on the shelf in the basement office but once sat on my desk at work and held extra (sharpened) pencils for my students to use. I may end up tossing it, even though it brings me joy, but not quite yet…

Paint pot children and spark plug toys

Memories, Things, , ,

When I was a kid I had plenty of toys. I had dolls and books and crayons and records. I was really wanting for nothing. That’s why it still seems strange to me that my most memorable “toys” were not toys at all.

I liked spark plugs. My dad was an auto mechanic for the first part of my youth and must have given me some to play with. You have to admit — they are kind of pretty with the metal and ceramic. I don’t remember what I actually did with the spark plugs — maybe just admired them but I always think of my dad when I see a spark plug.

Spark plugs among other garage stuff
Spark plugs among other garage stuff

I also remember playing school with my mother’s paint pots. She was taking a correspondence art course, so she had a lot of art supplies. I used to put a large paint pot in at one end of a table, then line the smaller ones in rows like desks. Girls on one side, boys on the other. (Red, yellow, pink, orange, white were girls. Blue, green, brown, black, gray were boys). The teacher would then teach the class.

Some paint pots lined up on a table
Some paint pots lined up on a table

As I said, I had plenty of toys but these were unique and memorable. Did you play with anything unusual as a kid?

Note: It seems I already blogged about this!

Resolution of Condolence for Ralph Tyler 1929

Death, Things, ,

My grandfather’s uncle Ralph was a firefighter in Sioux City, Iowa. He died in 1929 and the Sioux City Firemen’s Association sent the following “Resolution of Condolence”. It has all the right words, but is very formally written. It is remarkable that this 85 year old piece of tissue paper is still readable.

Resolution of Condolence

Whereas, on March 20th, 1929, death took member and former president of our Local and at the time of his demise Vice-president of the Iowa Association of Fire Fighters, a man who by unceasing and unselfish devotion and loyalty to our interests, who in his quiet and unassuming manner had commanded our respect, excited our admiration, and gained for himself the friendship of many who will sincerely mourn his loss; and

Whereas, in his life and in his association activities, he ever displayed undaunted courage, battling always straightforwardly and openly for what he believed to be right and for the good of all, and letting neither opposition to nor apparent hopelessness of worthy causes deter him from pressing on to achieve victory for them, and whose vigorous personality and tenacity in pursuit of his purpose were ever a stimulating force in developing in others that militancy of organization spirit, without which our cause would soon become feeble and emasculated; and

Whereas, in the death of Ralph Tyler, Sioux City, Firemen’s Association, has sustained a loss unparalleled in its history; and

Whereas, we feel that his influence for good has extended far beyond the limits of Sioux City; therefore be it –

Resolved, that we give expression of our sincere and heartfelt sorrow by tendering to the bereft relatives our deep sympathy in their loss; and be it further –

Resolved, that copies of this REsolution be sent to the family of the deceased; that a copy be sent to the Iowa Association of Fire Fighters, to be placed on record; that a copy be sent to the International Association of Fire Fighters for the publication; that a copy be spread upon the Minutes of this Union, and that the Chapter No. 7 be draped for a period of thirty days.

Sioux city Firemen’s Association,

/s/D. D. Welsh/ Rec. Sec.

Here’s his obituary.

ralph tyler obit