The Boxes

Through the many years of my existence, I have kept my remembrances (aka souvenirs) in what can be described as bank boxes but are actually the boxes that reams of copy paper come in, with lids, thanks to my teacher years.   A couple of days ago, I had need to get into the two boxes to search for some information that my daughter needed, but the boxes were high on a shelf above my head and beyond my capability to balance.  A radio friend came to my rescue.  He took the boxes down, and I was left to search them for the first time in forever.

Bottom line:  What my daughter needed was not in either box.  That should be the end of the story, but it isn't.  There are oh-so-many memories stashed in those cardboard containers!  The memories of a past life that basically would mean nothing to anyone else but me.  In fact, even I wonder why I saved some things.

Some things found in the boxes that go back to 2nd grade or ealier (not an inclusive list).  There are too many to mention, but here's a start, not in any order:

*The now-smashed red bow that was tied around my 1965 graduation red roses.
*Newspapers from President Kennedy's assassination in 1963.
*Pictures...lots of pictures...just thrown in the boxes, some of which are of our farm buildings that no longer exist.
*Newspaper pictures of my high school solo performances and/or play performances.
*A wooden gold star that my father created and secretly nailed to my bedroom door when I got my first lead role in a high school performance, circa 1964.
*My Bird Book...something that was created on assignment in 2nd grade (1955).  I was/am very proud of that little booklet because I thought I did such a good job.  (Shades of my granddaughter's 2nd grade artwork that showed so much talent.)
*School advertising posters for the plays in high school in which I was involved.  (1960's)
*Some campaign poetry written in my mother's hand, when I was running for secretary of my school's junior high government.  Mom finally talked me into running for President, and I won!  (1960 or so.)
*An 8x10 color picture of President Nixon and wife, received when we visited the White House on a government issued invitation in...maybe 1971?
*A card that accompanied some flowers from my parents saying, "Love to our star."  I'm guessing 1964 or 65.
*A small felt banner from Rice Lake High School, Rice Lake, WI.  (From my many years as an adorer of one of their students.)
*A Candygram that resembles a Western Union telegram, to me in college for Valentine's Day, from my parents and brother.
*My Kindergarten report card.
*At least one of my high school report cards.  (I kept the ones on which my dean, Mr. Schuknecht, wrote "Congratulations!  Honor roll!"  They certainly weren't all that good.)
*A proof of a professional General Electric brochure about their fluorescent lighting systems in schools.  A major GE plant was just blocks away from our school in Danville, IL, and my 4th grade teacher was a very attractive woman; hence, our class was chosen for the brochure.  I was in the pictures!!  (1957.)
*A script from a play I was in.  Pontiac, IL...1984.
*A newspaper from the day John Lennon was killed. (1980?)
*Some of my daughter's young artwork.

And the list goes on.
Where do I start to weed out things that just aren't going to mean anything to my family after I depart this life??    Suggestions appreciated!

I am left with a cluttered kitchen because the boxes have usurped usable space.  Ugh!  Next project??