Dateline Dayton — There is a saying (I have no idea from where it comes) that goes: If you call a vagabond a tramp. you do him wrong. He never goes a wandering that he doesn’t take his home along.

That is how I feel about all the items, the stuff I have saved over the years..

Should you call me a hoarder, I think you have done me wrong. Our home is neat and orderly. The items I have saved all of these years are stored, in one form or another. They are out of sight.

You may question why I kept those old utilities bills. A legitimate question. I don’t have a really good answer.

I save paper items for three main reasons:

First, sentimental value. Who wouldn’t save his first child’s bicycle license or second daughter’s art project? Then there are the sons’ college graduation programs, the youngest son’s scout awards. Secondly, items I believe may be of interest to someone in the future. Wouldn’t someone want to know about my involvement with Kiwanis in 1980?

Thirdly, the item may have genuine monetary value at a later date. I will admit that is far fetched. However, I did see someone pay a good sum for a box of memorial cards at an auction. You never know what will interest a person.

My wife questions why I have saved all of this stuff.

So much of it has been put through the shredder, and then she wonders what I still have stored away that she will find out about later? I believe she is talking about when I’ve gone to my eternal reward. I guess she doesn’t know one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.

Save Us from What?

I know a man who collects paper items, books, notes, and he stresses that you should have a knowledgeable person go through everything before you throw out anything out. Here I am, not following his advice, but I believe I have saved the important items.

I have gone through most of my stuff as well as all the items I had stored from Uncle Paul’s. Tax returns consume a fair amount of room, including the first return I ever filed. I can’t bring myself to put those files through the shredder. I will store them, safely I hope, in a box.

Maybe the next time they will go. But I always tell everyone to keep the last five years’ worth. I will, too.

Now I must move on to the items I have stored from Mom’s house. This will be a difficult task, determining what to keep and what to shred.

Many of Mom’s items are in a form not easy to shred, such as her diaries. I have given some of them to my brother and sisters. But many remain. Maybe I will give one to each of the grandchildren? I also have my grandmother’s (father’s side) diaries to deal with.

I am pretty sure I inherited my passion for saving from my Mother. She didn’t throw anything away. Her theory was, it probably could be used or needed someday!

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net