| After 40 plus years as a furniture restorer, it still | | | | belonged to Barbara's Mother whom had used it to |
| warms my heart when a client brings in an old item for | | | | rock barb and her little brother when she herself, was |
| review, wondering if it might be possible to do | | | | a young mother, it was a gift to her from her mom |
| something with it. There was a time long ago when if | | | | and in turn Barbs Mom had given to her just before |
| the item presented was not really worth the time, I | | | | passing away. I'm pretty sure that Barb had a lot of |
| would recommend against the restoration. As I have | | | | other chairs, and I'm sure she could have gone out and |
| grown a little older I have begun to realize, there is a | | | | bought one just as nice for the money she was |
| kind of value that defies appraisal. | | | | spending for the restoration, but knowing what we |
| The furnishings and other artifacts we have, and pass | | | | now know, that's not the point is it? |
| along to our kids and grandkids are more about | | | | As time goes on, my hair gets thinner, and my belly |
| preserving a family tradition and carrying on a pride in | | | | gets thicker, and I see more and more, the importance |
| our family and loved ones than just a place to sit. | | | | of leaving a legacy, as individuals, families and even as |
| As I slow down and really listen to what my clients are | | | | a country. And the stuff we have in and around our |
| saying, it starts to become more and more clear, It isn't | | | | homes, while it is so true that we can't take it with us, |
| really about the chair or end table or whatever on the | | | | what we leave behind helps us to tell a story. The |
| surface it seems to be. The little thing they brought | | | | story of what we hold dear, the values we ascribe to |
| along for me to see. The thing they are trying to grab | | | | and the example we set for future generations to |
| onto is really more a legacy than any thing else. It's a | | | | model. |
| way to preserve what seems good about the past, | | | | Christmas dinner on Grandma's dining set will always |
| and to bring that forth in their home today. | | | | taste better, and a book enjoyed in front of a fireplace |
| Maybe that thing lives inside the chair, where as a kid | | | | is more intriguing if you are seated in mom's rocking |
| they remember Grandpa sitting on the front porch, | | | | chair. |
| smoking his pipe and telling stories of how it was when | | | | So, when taking inventory and planning what to do with |
| his daddy raised him. It's a reminder of stories from a | | | | potential heirlooms when they come your way think |
| time before people had electricity in the house, and | | | | twice. Remember, it's not only about cost benefit |
| chilly visits to the outhouse on a cold November night. | | | | analysis and replacement cost. |
| For example, not long ago, a client of ours named | | | | When you decide to keep that rocker, or table or |
| Barbara stopped by to drop off a family piece. My | | | | dining set, keep this in mind, these things are heavy |
| associate commented about a rocking chair, it was | | | | laden vehicles, vehicles that transport fond memories, |
| laying just inside the door of our shop in pieces where | | | | important values and sometimes several lifetimes |
| barb left it just a moment before, I think something like | | | | worth of identity. I believe, that if you plan your interior |
| "why in the world, would anybody spend money on | | | | design projects with these thoughts in mind, you will |
| that?" At face value, it's a valid question. The chair | | | | develop a real beautiful and warm home, a back drop |
| wasn't that good. The cost of restoration probably | | | | for all the things you hold dear, and an opportunity to |
| was every bit or more what it would cost to replace | | | | teach the next generation what is good and true and |
| the rocker, but there was more to it than that, he had | | | | praiseworthy in life. |
| totally, missed the point as so many do. The rocker | | | | |