Memorabilia

Is there anything that you have had handed down to you, that is of particular emotional value to you - athough it might not be 'worth much' ?

I have a wooden chess set, carved by my grandfather, whilst he was in a German P.O.W camp in the first world war in Russia. He carved one 'side' as German soldiers (and even used little nails for the peak on the helmets; the other side Belgian soldiers. Along with that I have (but can't find it - it is burried somewhere safe) a letter written to him addressed to the camp, with the official camp from the camp censors, from his son (My Dad)'s teacher to tell him that Dad was excelling at school.

I love the set; I will try and photograph it and send the picture up.

I have 3 things from my grandparents that I keep at my desk at home that wouldn't impress the Antique Roadshow but are special to me.

One is a stainless steel Parker Jotter Pen from the early 70s. I've lost it about half a dozen times, but it always turns up. The last time, I was cleaning out a car I was selling, and as I pushed the passenger's seat back one last time, the pen popped out of the seat track. Haven't lost it since.

Two is a desk calendar...once again nothing fancy, but neat. Each day, you flip it and the number falls into the window. It has the name of a medical supply company that made braces, trusses, etc. and the phone number is Bayonne, NJ 783. It doesn't have a year on it, but I'd have to guess early 1900s.

Three is a architect's sketch of the house my grandfather built in 1931. He was a law professor at Georgia Tech before joining the GA Board of Regents, and though he wasn't filthy rich, he lived rather modestly and paid off the $13,000 mortgage in 1938. When he died in 1984, my grandmother sold it for $225k. A couple of years ago I drove by it and saw a real estate sign, so I looked it up on the realtor's site, and the asking price was $438k. If I had some ca$h, I would have a new address.

I have my Grandmother's china cabinet. She passed away 12 yrs ago. It is the only item that I have that belonged to her and I plan on passing it down to my oldest daughter. I keep all of my dolphin stuff in it as well as important papers.