Geeky Television and Family Heirlooms
The Repair Shop gets me thinking about "stuff" and its importance
Sue and I go through phases when it comes to watching television. When we went to Europe over the summer we decided to examine our viewing choices and stopped all streaming services. Upon our return we decided to resume one at a time. That said, in the interim we started using those weird “live” channels available just through our TV. From the “Murder She Wrote” channel to “Britbox Crime” to ones that focus on weird cryptid alien conspiracy theory shows. Sue likes to multi-task and tends to deal with things in those small old school network TV bites. So we watch short stuff that isn’t too intellectual, something that doesn’t require us to pay too much attention and can just be background noise. Currently we’ve been watching “The Repair Shop” from British Television. In each episode people show up with family heirlooms that have been damaged, but full of memories. The shop is filled with craftspeople, experts in their field who work on repairing, conserving, or renovating each piece. The thing is, being British, they are all so nice, and polite. It’s like why people watch the Great British Baking Show - the contestants want to win, but they still help each other out. They don’t grumble and say they deserve to win and were robbed… which is so American 🙄. In the Repair Shop everyone works together and helps each other out. Each episode focuses on three projects, and I learn about how so many things are made and work. The people who bring things in are “chuffed” at the results and usually leave in tears. For me the importance of people using skills to help rebuild memories is something I don’t see happening in a world where everything is disposable. Although as the show has gone on, they have had to bring in experts in electronics to help fix things from those ancient times like the 1980’s 🙄
As I watch episodes I think about the stuff I’ve acquired over the years and what they mean to me. Over the years Sue and I have picked up quite a few family items that we cherish. I can’t really speak about the ones from Sue as many of them are well before I joined her family.
My father’s mother was an artist, and I have been given some of her ceramic pieces. She made a series of vignettes based on Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit and A. A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh. As the story goes, she entered some of these into a competition and was told that they were too good to have been hand done and therefore disqualified. I have the final pieces along with some of her ceramic sketches proving they were hand made.
As for my paternal grandfather, I have a simple book that he gave me. As a beginning teacher he thought E. D. Hirsch’s Cultural Literacy would be an interesting read. The thing I love about it is that it has his notes written in the margins.
When my maternal grandmother was alive I was one of the closest grandchildren (distance wise and we shared a birthday) therefore I ended up with some items, especially when she moved from the family home. I think she thought I was crazy when I said which things I would like to have. For me, almost every item has a memory attached.
As a child I remember silly things and those are the things I asked for. We would arrive as kids I would run into the dining room and play a xylophone that was used to let guests know dinner was ready. I actually used these dinner chimes in my classroom as a signal to quiet down. It now sits in my dining room.
When visiting as a child I had cereal in the morning, milk was put into a ceramic cow creamer for me to pour on my Rice Krispies. In the kitchen was a cookie jar of a smiling friar with the words “Thou shalt not steal” on it.
One thing my grandmother collected was music boxes. One I loved as a kid was an automaton of a small bird in a cage that sang a song.
When cleaning out storage area in her basement I stumbled upon an old bookcase. My grandmother said it was from their old house and that my grandfather had made it. It was filled with his old school books. It now has a place of honor in my studio, filled with treasured books and items.
This happened over the years and some things I missed, but I also wanted to not seem like I was greedy, I almost wish now I had been, but I can only hope that another family member ended up with. Our family isn’t that close so I really don’t know.
Of course I have old family photos, and other things, but these specific items create a direct connection between me and my memories of the person who originally owned them which is why are so special.
Recently my father talked about things he would leave behind and who might want any of it. I quietly asked if he had plans or if anyone had asked about his signet ring. Something he had always worn and had been a gift from my mother. My intention was to receive it when the time came. He, instead, shipped it off to me. I had it resized and now wear it.
Like with The Repair Shop some items might be in need of some professional TLC but we’ve done our best to keep everything in the best shape. Of course not having kids I’m not sure who will want anything I have. I’m figuring that when the time comes, most of the nostalgic items will be offered to family members. Then again, I’ll be long gone so it really doesn’t matter to me. As for my personal items… I can’t see anyone wanting my comics, my jean jacket, Cecil, or any of my sketch books. Personally, I just want Sue, and the cats taken care of.
Sue told me about 'The Repair Shop' this weekend! It sounds like such a lovely show, definitely on our list to tuck into at some point (winter is coming!). And similarly, I also ask for small things that belong(ed) to relatives. I have a pewter jewelry box from my maternal grandmother, along with her tartans. My dad's baby shoes and drivers license. A pendant of a gold dog from my mother-in-law. And although she is still very much with us, my mother gifted me a custom ring dad gave her, that I wear most days. And I have my name on a corner cabinet at her house that I just need to figure out how to get from Texas to Indiana. Coming across these items randomly sparks joy, and we most definitely need that as often as possible!