Recently, my folks moved out of the "big house" family homestead into an assisted-living condo type of arrangement. As my dad hits his mid-80's, it was the right thing to do, just no good time to draw that line. My dad had a sizeable shop that just couldn't be assimilated into their new situation.
As the kids split up most of the items left in the house, I seem to have inherited a male-linked gene that my sisters don't have. My dad never met a tool or gadget he didn't like (and therefore purchased). In addition, he never discarded anything (!), especially a tool that might have some use somewhere. I too suffer from this disease!
Now I am sorting through boxes of tools shipped cross country and it's like reading a chapter book about my dad's life, including his days working in the foundry, building projects at home, or keeping up the grounds around the place. It has provided a great chance to ask questions about where things came from and learn more about every decade in my dad's life. Maybe those old tools have some use after all...
