We have been cleaning out my Father-in-Law’s house. He lived there for almost 50 years and saved everything. In two large file cabinets in the basement, there are canceled checks that date back from the 1960s.
This is one box full of them. One box of many, many boxes. It is from a shoe-store chain that does not even exist anymore, although at one time it was in every shopping mall around. Like the memory of shoe shopping this box brings, it has been interesting to look through some of the older canceled checks. A $3.00 birthday check for a niece or nephew, a ridiculously small electric bill, donations to charities. In a way, the checks were like a timeline of my in law’s life.
They are all being shredded before being put out for recycling. It seems odd, but it is strangely hard to do. It feels like erasing a record of their life.
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alookatthelittlethings 
Oh yes,.my Dad kept all his old cheque books!
I think all dads do.
I recognized that shoe store box right away. My Aunt worked at that store and we got our shoes there because she was able to give us a discount.
That discount would have made my teenage self very happy.
A poignant collection of ‘the little things’!
It is interesting to find that it is the little things that hit the hardest sometimes.
Yes, I remember the shoe store too! I am sure it is hard to do.
“Back in the day” is was either Kinney or Thom McCann for shoes.
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A lovely story Christina, we have had a similar experience
It’s funny how something like old paperwork can really get to you.
Ah yes, in the old days cheques were returned and had to be kept as proof of payment.
I had a few boxes of my own, but everything seems to be digital now.
The checks are like the account books kept by an earlier generation–little bits of info about the running of a household in a certain time and place. I can see the poignancy of shredding them . . .
I used to write checks for everything. Now it seems odd to see someone pull out a checkbook at the grocery store.
Ah, the old boxes of checks! I don’t miss those days, but can see why it feels as if you’re “erasing” his history. Very touching example of checks.
I have this feeling I have an old box of my own checks somewhere in the house. I don’t miss those days either.
A huge box! I initially thought it was wood. I understand the feeling that you were erasing a past….such history. It must have be a very interesting read as you went through it:)
It was, especially seeing the names of stores that no longer exist. It was a walk through the memories.
I’m sure it was:)