we find our histories

January 21st, 2009

7


I spent the long weekend in San Diego, as my mother is there for a month taking care of her parents. For me, being around family is surreal – we are not “family people” inherently, and witnessing behaviours and being around this curious tribe that looks like you and acts like you is strange but enlightening. It was good, a good trip. I have really been feeling blessed these days.

I did manage to snag some amazing treats while down there, from an estate sale around the corner & also family bits that were plied onto me by my Nana.

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The shearling 1930s coat is from the estate sale. It was perfect for my strange feverish flight home, in Long Beach you get on the plane on the tarmac with a stairway, so glamorous. It’s very Myrna Loy in the Thin Man. The coat, not the plane. Though you never know.
Tweed cap, estate sale.
Kid gloves, estate sale.
The typewriter, my uncle’s, he died in 1993. It writes in cursive, which is exactly what I have been wanting for aaagggeess. I am in raptures over it & really glad to have something of his. Maybe he will send me messages on it? When he died,  I’d have dreams that he was calling from the beyond but I was too scared to answer the phone in the dream as I Knew It Was A True Thing. Now, I wish I had.
Dominos, my grandfathers. Ancient bone? Ivory? Again raptures. I’ve been wanting to play dominoes again since my birthday. Now I just need Oakland friends. And domino tea parties.
The Polaroid Land Cam was my grandfathers. I may need to splurge on at least one pack of film.
I also grabbed 2 family photo albums, one from 1917 and one from 1944. They were disintegrating and wedged in a closet.  One amusing moment ~ my grandfather has piles of rocks and driftwood and feathers everywhere, just tiny collections and vignettes,  and my Nana was angry about them being everywhere. My mom laughed and just pointed at me, knowing that I do the same.  When he is gone, I will go to the house and collect those tiny piles.

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