Storage

What does an old typewriter, a file cabinet, a Spiderman lunchbox, an empty fish tank, and wooden golf clubs have in common? They are personal storage items collecting dust in my grandparent in law’s garage. For many years these items have gone untouched by human hands in hopes that one day they will be appreciated like they were back in the day. I gave myself a mission on that day. That mission was to find storage solutions for my grandparent in laws.

I spend a good part of my Christmas vacation creating storage solutions for my grandparent in laws. Entering their garage is like traveling though time, but only in one direction, the past. I wouldn’t call everything in the garage useless; rather they belong in a museum or on the wall of a famous chain restaurant. The last time I seen wooden golf clubs was on the wall of TGI Fridays hung as decorations. In the garage they represent the old couples active past, which may be why they cant part with them.

 I had a difficult time prying open the filing cabinet, but once I got it open I was taken back to November 22, 1963. A yellowed newspaper laid on top of the drawer with a headline about the Kennedy assassination. They were more newspaper articles and memorabilia about my grandfather in law’s achievements as principal of an elementary school. They too were yellowed and fragile from the harsh temperature changes in the garage. A few storage solutions came to mind, but the best would be a climate controlled storage unit. Obviously, the memories that these storage items generate are very important to the old couple; therefore, there are better storage solutions then a musty garage for such mementos.

I know why they keep the fish tank, but it may not be the only reason. My wife repeatedly says she wants it but it is a long way to haul a glass fish tank to Missouri from California. So it sits there on a shelf holding more dust than water. It’s been a long time since that tank housed lively fish. Probably as long as the golf clubs were last used. I’m not sure that the fish tank will hold water, but they keep it anyway. If it was up to me I would just throw it away in the garbage, but there are other storage solutions. As long as they are going to rent a self storage unit for the file cabinet and golf clubs, they might as well put the fish tank in there too until we are ready to take it home.

I wish that typewriter could talk or had memory storage; I’m sure it could tell lots of stories. This typewriter is not even one of those electric ones; it’s all manual. It represents a how far technology has changed in the last century; yet, it sits on top of a shelf in a musty garage. Storage solutions for this item vary, but I would not stick it in a storage unit. This typewriter is a rare find and belongs in the Museum of National History.

When I explore that garage I am reminded of how we are so quick we are to change today. Modern technology changes so fast and in this day of age, if you don’t keep up you are left behind. Sometimes I regret tossing electronics and other modern equipment into the garbage because I learn the personal value of them later. It is important to create other storage solutions to preserve the past. 

Brought to you by:

Storage Units

and

Self Storage Owner Blog

Tweet This Post 

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

View Staff's Profile      Subscribe via RSS