Meticulous Engineer's Estate Sale Engineer collected thousands of old coins, used only the nicest Nikon SLR equipment, and kept many memories from living on Indian Reservations.
News-Antique.com - Nov 18,2008 - Here's a little bit about our family ...
My parents both lived through the Depression, and didn't have much growing up, so they worked hard to provide my bother and I with a rich life...My mom was first generation Romanian, and my Dad - second generation Hungarian. We grew up with a rich sense of those cultures, especially the Romanian. My maternal grandmother was a peasant who heard that the streets were paved in gold in America, and she hopped on a boat at 16. She baked and canned, gardened-- crocheted, knitted, sewed, embroidered.... when I think of her - I think of her with a crochet hook in her hand, and I even found some of the needles that were hers when she was a teenager. She made sweaters, hats, and scarves - not to mention - baby clothes, doll clothes, doilies, table cloths, and throws, ... she could crochet anything - and these articles were the most difficult to give up - but the most joyous to look through - realizing that she made all of these things with love ... Sounds corny, but it gives you a sense of depth you don't get by purchasing something at Macy's... I wanted someone to be able to enjoy them instead of sitting in a closet.
My Mom was a homemaker - and really did make it a home for us. In her youth, she would make most of her clothes, because they couldn't afford to buy them. Her sewing room was an amazing place... I found remnants, yarns - sorted by colors... patterns - clothes she had decontructed - projects she had started... a lifetime of creation... I used to sit next to her when she sewed on the old singer - and going through that room was the most rewarding for me, because it helped me remember all the wonderful crafts we did together - and how much my mom loved to create. That creativity is one of the most important gifts she gave us.
My mom was frugal and was a saver ... She saved bread ties, scrap paper, wrapping paper, gift tags, bows, ribbon, bags - all neatly organized by color and holiday ... She also kept many of my toys - even though I never had kids ... OK - I gotta admit they were a bit tough to give up - even though I'm now almost 50! My stuffed animals - the cowardly lion from the Wizard of Oz, a stuffed toy soldier from Babes in Toyland, my first teddy bear , Misha the Russian bear from the 1980 Olympics (that the U.S. didn't participate in)- and so many dolls - Madame Alexander (including a Romanian and Hungarian from my Grandma!), Raggedy Ann and Andy (with the official hearts on their chests) - my lambchop puppet - my Beenie and Cecil jack in the box, ...my trolls and troll house.... Ah - the memories ...
