12 years ago, when I was a young, single woman, I had the amazing opportunity to go to South Africa. Everything about it was awesome. I brought back tons of treasures. So many, in fact, that my friend and I had to stop at a luggage store on our way to the airport to buy additional suitcases to get it all home.
One thing I brought back was this hand-carved chess set.
I purchased this in a tiny second floor studio in a little town. I purchased it even though I don’t (and don’t have any desire to) play chess, because it was gorgeous and full of character, and from South Africa, and very affordable.
If it were the only thing I had purchased to bring home in South Africa, I would be keeping it. But it’s not. Yes, it will be the latest victim of our simplifying.
Don’t get mad at me. It will be going to a better home, where it will be appreciated and admired and hopefully on display and used. Here at our house, it sat in a box. While I would love to have it on display, the pieces fall down too easily, and can you imagine dusting that regularly?! I’d settle for using it occasionally, except, I don’t like the game of chess.
So, instead of putting it back in the game chest where it will be neglected and take up space, we are donating it to our church’s silent auction.
The decision was easy. But following through was not. We set it up one last time and admired it and waffled a little bit, but we packed it up. It will be handed off this weekend, and it will be hard. But we have no reason to keep it. I’d much rather someone have it that is going to enjoy it.
Besides, I do have other beautiful, hand-made treasures that I brought home and still use all the time.
This decision had nothing to do with our simplifying game, by the way. But you can be SURE that I am going to count it. Now the only question is, how many items does this count as? Normally I’d say one, as it’s a package deal, but I think I should get some bonus items since it’s so special. What do you think?
Sure you will count this. You could save it for a day when you don’t have time or energy to find any other things and count this for one days worth, what ever the day is. I had actually one item stored for that, but then I did find other items after all and did not have to count that as many just as one.
A has been in Tanzania and I think he too needed to get a new bag to bring the souvenir home, atleast he also still has a plenty of things from there 🙂 . Those items have a very similar style as your chess set.
Good idea, I’ll do that.
Tanzania would be so fun. Do you use the things he purchased?
He did not bring anything useful from there, only usable item he did bring are salad servers, but those are so difficult to wash, so no we don’t use those either.
What a gorgeous set! It sounds like it is moving on to a better home and for such a good cause.
Right after I started my blog we were given a chess set that had been in storage since my husband was an infant (*cough* 40+ years *cough*) We found out that it had a pretty special history and even though my husband had no attachment to it and was eager to let it go, our son was not. He has it in his room until he is ready to pass it along.
As much as I’m a fan of holding on to stuff because it has special meaning, I’m as huge a fan of letting something go when it is time. It sounds like this is the right time for you. And I think it counts for more than one item since it traveled half way around the world in it’s journey to it’s new home. 😉
Wow, did you blog about your set? I’ll have to go look. 🙂 Maybe your son will learn to play and it will be put to good use.
Wow 12yrs ago already. I remember you there. Just recently found a photo with us in it made in SA then.:)
Way to go to let it go. I have a few items like that. It’s in my ‘I will have to look at that later’ box.
I do love playing chess but it’s a long time ago I played it. And your African souvenir looks amazing, but it is so true that when you keep it in a box and you know you would get annoyed by dusting it over and over again, it’s better to donate it to another “home”. 🙂 I have one old board of chess that I inherited from my grandfather and he loved playing chess. He learned me to play it. And it was the only thing I wanted to have. It got it’s own special place, displayed next to a few favorite books I have in my book case.
I also try to let go of things when it’s time, although that’s hard sometimes. But I made a little deal with myself on clothes: when I buy one new item, I have to let go of one old one. Sometimes that works out, sometimes it doesn’t. 😉
Hugs, Inge x
Your chess set sounds a lot more special than mine. I wouldn’t let that one go, especially if I liked playing it. I try to do the same thing with clothes, it really helped me get rid of the temptation to buy more.