I live with my antiques and family heirlooms. My great-great grandmother's blue crock sits on my kitchen counter and holds potholders; her daughter's wedding portrait hangs on my office wall. I carry my grandfather's driver's licence in my wallet as a good luck charm, and my grandmother's small juice glass alternates between smashing peanut butter cookies and cutting biscuits in my kitchen. These small talismans have helped me understand our ancestors were more than just names and dates.
While I was on vacation last week, a new floor was installed in my office. Unfortunately, during the install, two of my most treasured items were accidently damaged or destroyed. The "cautionary tale" alluded to in the blog title is this: if you own a family heirloom that you want to keep safe from damage or destruction, don't assume anyone else will be as careful with it as you are. At the end of the day, they are only "things," but if they are important to you, consider what steps you can take to safeguard them.
