Friday, April 8, 2011

The Oldest Thing I Own



The oldest thing I own is an old book that belonged to my Grandfather. It is about 50 years old. It is a book on jurisprudence - the philosophy of law - and he wanted to be a lawyer. Unfortunately, he did not go far enough in formal education to be a lawyer, even though he made it to magistrate (career magistrate). I loved him to bits.

He called me "Senior Brother", and died before I discovered I wanted to study law. Maybe I did it for him. He died sitting up in a hospital queue. He was 84 and very ill, but nobody would let him jump the queue.

I have never read that book - I never may. It holds much more than just the complex writing in there: life, love, sentiments, a deep bond.

What is yours? What is the oldest thing you own? What's the history behind it?

7 comments:

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  2. Awww.... This is very touching. It's sad the way he passed. our Health system still has a long way to go... I'll have to think about the oldest thing I own.

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  3. This is a touching piece. But sometimes if we listen and do things for others we really do it well or we could find that perhaps our callings are intertwined. I hope you have not regretted studying law.

    Well I cannot be sure of the oldest thing I own, perhaps myself. lol. But that would be cheating so I would think about it but not sure if I would remember to post it here.

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  4. The oldest thing I own would have to be my mom's Presby hymn book, circa 1970. that was way before I was born. Her mom gave it to her on the day she got married. She in turn gave it to me on the day I got married. She said three words - "twen wo wura boa" (wait on the Lord). That's hymn # 322. Every time I feel like giving up - which has been a lot of times - I sing that hymn and feel that even though my mom is half a world away, both she and God are with me.

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  5. I like your post. "What is the oldest thing that you own" is a great question. The oldest thing that I own are knitting needles that belonged to my great grandmother. Some came with her from Poland, some are hand carved. I still use them.

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  6. i think the oldest thing i own is a talcum powder my grandfather gave my grandmother at their marriage ceremony. lol

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  7. A dress and some brocade cloth my grandmother gave to her daughters before she died.

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