Shortly after Christmas, I decided to go into my attic to purge and organize. I am not a hoarder, but I do have a propensity to hold on to some things that I deem sentimental.

In my attic you will find an old iron bed, a couple of chairs, boxes of baby clothes and five years of financial records. Of course, the stuff I keep for Uncle Sam if he comes calling is not a keepsake, but that junk has to go somewhere.

If it is in the attic, at least it is not cluttering up the living spaces of the house.

Before I started this huge undertaking, I bought a new box of black trash bags and a shop light from Home Depot so I could see better in the dimly lit upper portion of my home. The clean-up took me the better part of a day with some of the stuff going directly to the garbage can and the rest donated to the Salvation Army.

With a job of this nature, I could probably have benefited from some help, but I knew better. Opening up my boxes and trunks was a solo task and one that I have to admit I enjoyed.

Sorting through my memorabilia, I came across some letters that I had apparently kept for old times’ sake. It was fun to go back, read them, and relive the moments in my mind when I had received them for the first time.

Some of the letters were from my grandmother who now has dementia. It was quite emotional to hear her talking to me again through her correspondence.

Other letters were from old boyfriends. I know my girls will get a kick out of reading these one day when I am long gone. Also, there were several notes and cards I had saved that my parents had written to me.

Don’t think for one minute I thought about tossing these little gems out. I gently tucked each one back into its envelope and returned it for safekeeping.

Technology has expanded since the good ole days, and now it offers us devices, which allow us to communicate with our friends and family instantly by texting or using email. There is no more waiting to send a get-well message or a thank you.

As amazing and proficient as this may be, I just wonder what it will be like in 20 years since written letters and notes are becoming a thing of the past.

I can hardly remember a text from a week ago, so I know those messages will not linger in my brain for the duration of my life. Even though you can save an email to a file, I just don’t think it will be the same as holding and reading a hand written letter.

Though better organized and less cluttered, my roof space is still full of things that cause me to feel nostalgic.

Alongside the blankets that warmed my babies and the Barbies with whom I played when I was a girl, my letters will always be a reminder and the most cherished keepsakes I have.