Memories are made of….what?

Having spent the long weekend at my childhood home, clearing out cupboards, draws and the loft, I’m not sure I know the answer to this question!

Maybe I’m even more confused about what memories are. Or maybe I’m totally clear, but it’s sometimes difficult to share with others who have differing opinions. What do you think?

I personally put in the bin, my parent’s 21st birthday cards, wedding invites, birthday invites for friends and masses of photographs. Just because I’ve binned them doesn’t mean that my Dad, (and late Mum), won’t have their memories will it?

Looking through the photographs, it brought back memories of holidays, birthdays, favourite clothes and all the wonderful things that make up my past. But just because I haven’t seen these things for years doesn’t mean that I’m not me does it?

So, yes, I was hard. A lot of ‘stuff’ got binned, recycled and given away. Is that wrong? Do you think it’s throwing memories away? Or are memories just that? Memories, in our heads and hearts?

It’s almost 3 years since my Mum died, and Dad is hoping to move house soon (just needs a buyer – anyone interested? Lovely village in Essex, easy commute to London, overlooks fields….oops! Digressing again!). The house has to be emptied, and he won’t need all the ‘stuff’ that’s in there. Do any of us? I know I throw things out a lot easier since clearing a lot of Mum’s things out.

I’m going to make up some books of my life, along with that of my parents, grandparents and family tree history. Not much, but some basics and photos over the years. Have you done anything similar?

So what are your memories made of? ‘Things’, or ‘stuff’ in your head?