I cannot in good conscience rec this post, for I do not believe it is your duty to sell off a lifetime of accumulated assets in order to achieve transcendental "worthiness" for a little help from your friends. Apply now or sell me your hair, Rapunzel.

I'll rec it, and wish I could buy something, but I can't. Moral support is what I have in the main! I'll go look though... ;-}

I echo the sentiments that others have expressed, but I understand that you have your mind made up - a southern woman with a stubborn streak. So I won't attempt to change your mind.

I'm sure you've considered an antique dealer. Considering that you are in Charleston and that antiques of every proper sort are part of the heritage, your wonderful pieces may sell quite easily. You are, of course, discerning enough to select just the right vendor to give yourself some comfort ... that your "assets" will eventually be loved by another. Someone like yourself, who values the beauty of the past. The echo to the future.

I've always admired an iron fist in a velvet glove. When I think of you at this moment, I see Scarlet making a dress out of drapes and amazing everyone with her style. Then again, I also see Carol Burnett wearing an actual drape - rod included - because I also admire your sense of humor. ;-)

Interesting stuff to ponder, ww, and I believe I have even without your impetus here. Pride. Possessions. We most often define ourselves with both. I've reached a point in my own life at which they also seem to confine us , circumscribe us, in comfort to be sure, but without the spark we might have felt when we formulated the intellectual underpinnings of pride or added the material weight of that Oh-so-perfect, (collectible or not), accoutrement to our lifetime's collection. Both may reflect, albeit imperfectly, a seriousness, and aesthetic that is to be treasured, but as I age, I find myself devolving into some variation of a conceptual artist, in which I seem to be content in the knowledge, that I conceived those ideas, acquisitions, etc., and that having them, (ethereal ideation, or material possession), has lost some of its luster. I've been around a lot of poverty these last few months, and the determination, the will, dignity, and humility I see in the face of overwhelming odds, and scant resources is remarkable. I know I've related the story of Diogenes and Alexander the Great more than once here, but it bears repeating.

Diogenes was one of the founders of the cynic school of philosophy, and had essentially renounced all material possessions. He was described as living in a "barrel", in other words, homeless, when Alexander rode into town. Alexander came upon him upon entering his town, and questioned Diogenes, and was in turn greatly pleased and impressed with Diogenes riposte. In turn Alexander asked Diogenes to tell him what in all the world, he, Alexander, could do for him. Diogenes looked back to the conqueror or the known world, and asked, "Could you please move along, as you are blocking the sun". Maybe it's just me, but I find that interaction and Diogenes request one of the most profound I've ever heard of.

Wendy-

Oh how I wish I were sufficiently wealthy (in cash terms) to buy all your possessions so I could then return them to you! It would be fair reward in exchange for all you have offered here in TPM. And it would be a great investment if it freed you to write more from your experience and from the heart, as you do.

You have an intriguing story to tell, judging from the few pieces you have shared with us. I hope you can overcome the challenges that confront you, and I suspect a key to that will come in exploiting your talents.

Write! Write, woman! Write! Write! And then, write some more!

I always see you there ...

Hey! I didn't mean for this to be here.

But since it is ... I don't think an instrument is a mere possession (assuming it's played). Making music is a new joy every time. One can never fully absorb that juice - only miss it when it's gone.

kgb999-- yep, that's where I see these things going, to one or more investment bankers. Let's hope there are lots of them at the auction and that they feel competitive, one with another, and the winning bidders have to pay plenty. A small satisfaction, to separate them from some of their money. Will I need to launder it rid it of bad karma?

I am going to sell them at auction, M., but not in Charleston where the tight-fisted nature of the local buying beast would cause the sale prices to be lower than in Philadelphia or New York. Yes, I'd like these things to go to homes in which they would be loved, but in this instance, I'll settle for selling them to someone for monetary value. In order to avoid, or at least delay becoming Carol Burnett's character. ;-)

=(

I dunno wot to do. I am sad. I understand, though. Some things precious to me have found their way out of here, for common, vulgar, cash.

Funny how there used to be enough of that, and now there never does seem to be. I don't have much, don't need much, but the few things that do get passed down, well, you want to be able to do that as well.

What will I leave for my loved ones? I don't know. Maybe my love is all I will have left to leave them.

(hugs)

It does make me sad not to be able to leave these things to my son and/or his cousins. But at least my son has cheerfully confessed that he doesn't like any of it anyway. The girls will feel differently, especially about the portrait, "Ms. Manners" (the one that was my old avatar) about whose ultimate disposition there has been considerable maneuvering among them already. So, problem solved, eh?
The fact is that I am coming to this decision way too late. I should have sold these things, at the very latest, last year; if I had, this year would have been far less worrisome. Months of an "unblocked sun" rather than an eclipse.

Hmmm, thank you, Ripper, but is there much of a market for gray/white-streaked dark hair? I'm thinking not. Only so many Cruella de Ville movies made. ;-)

Yeah. I mean that as part of the love. For my daughters 18th birthday, I opted to create a hopefully good memory, (MoMa and time together with friends and her boyfriend,) rather than some piece of jewelry, although, the lacy garnet necklace I got on mine is now hers.

Luckily it's value is far more sentimental than monetary.

=D

Who knows, maybe garnets will be like gold someday. I think I am saying (poorly) that the time spent in worry-free, simple happiness is probably of more value in the long term, ma'am. For all concerned.

Agreed, Bwak. I know that is so.
Lucky girl -- your daughter -- in every respect, to have you as her mother. And garnets are really lovely, especially when they, or anything else, are from one's mother.

Yez, well, we are both lucky to have LisB to impose on. The hostess with the mostess.

=D

Thanks for that link, Ruta -- I appreciate it.

Thank you, Joe. I am a great admirer of your work and of your character.

Anna -- thank you. This song does resonate, in a good, positive way. The posting of this blog has actually been amazingly cathartic, although that is not why I posted it.
I'm good. It's all alright. I was lucky to have what I had when I had it, and I am lucky to have what's left to help see me through what's next. More people should be so lucky.

Dear Wendy,
In regards to your double manual harpsichord, I realize that you know best on how to sell it in an auction, but have you considered providing an opportunity to harpsichordists by listing it at http://www.harpsichord.com/ which is linked at many harpsichord societies and academic sites.
Just a thought.