Having
spent the last couple of months sorting through family photos it was time to
change things up a bit. Sometimes it can get a little repetitive looking at the
two dimensional as it can be difficult at times to peer over to the other side
of the lens. It is times like these when I like to pull open my dresser drawer
and hold the items that have been passed down to me through the family. While
there are a variety of items from rings and cuff links to spoons and other knickknacks,
there is a small collection of watches that I seem to go back to more
often than the other items.
The
Timex at the top of the photo is by no means a valuable wrist watch. It is a
very simple, heavily worn watch that my grandpop used to wear. That is where
the value is for me. I don’t have many memories of my grandpop but there is
something about holding an item that he wore every day that brings a sense of
connection and makes me wonder what that watch had been through and where it
may have been as well.
The
pocket watch at the bottom of the picture is something that represents both
sides of my family. My great grandmother gave this Howard watch from the 1920’s to my
dad years ago. He added the chain where you can see his initials. A few years
ago he passed this watch down to me and I have taken it all over the world
while it has also served as inspiration for numerous creative endeavors in the
past. It is something that represents my mom’s family and, while I don’t recall
him ever using it, something that reminds me of my dad.
The
three watches in the middle came to me at different times in my life. The
Citizen on the right is the first watch that I bought and it served me well for
a couple of years. The Invicta in the middle was given to me by my brother at
the rehearsal dinner the day before his wedding when I served as one of his
groomsmen. And the watch on the left is the one that I have worn nearly every
day for the past eight years. My parents gave the Hamilton Khaki Automatic to
me and it has not only served me well over the years in a practical sense but
it also reminds me of my parents and their generosity whenever I slow down and take
a moment to appreciate it.
All
of these watches have stories behind them. Some old, some new. Some tell a
little bit of the story of many family while others are simply a part of my
story. However, I hope to pass these down to my son, along with the stories
that I know, many years from now once I have had a little more time to enjoy
them. Again, that is the true value in these timepieces.
