Is this sporting equipment just old or is it vintage?
Through the years, I’ve written a few times here about cleaning out closets and selling or donating old furniture, collectibles and anything else I just don’t want or have room for anymore. In the latest chapter of divesting myself of all worldly goods (not really, just kidding), I found myself at long last cleaning out the attic of our shed. I use the term “shed” loosely because my dad built the structure in the early 2000s from plans he bought. He “enlarged” the shed a bit, so much so that the whole neighborhood was convinced he was adding another garage, or what trendy folks on HGTV now call an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). While the huge shed does have electricity, that’s about it for utilities. I’ve often mused about how it could be turned into a really cute tiny house.
The huge shed now houses our lawn care and gardening equipment, but the upstairs attic storage area was packed with all sorts of trash and treasures. I got out the big ladder that extends upward and cautiously climbed up, not sure of exactly what I would find. My husband stood guard down below securing the ladder and ready to catch whatever came falling toward him.
I let out a huge groan when I realized there was an old golf bag and clubs (probably my grandfather’s) and then a second golf bag and clubs (unknown owner). I dragged them to the opening and slowly lowered them to my husband. A friend told me if they were wooden shafts, they might have some value. Nope. Just really old metal irons.
Next, I let out a huge chuckle as I discovered my dad’s old snow skis. These were from around 1978 to 1980, and I’m not sure at this point whether all of this old sporting equipment would be labeled just old or could I call it “vintage?” Either way, using skis that old will ensure you break a leg, and using golf clubs that old may lead to someone incurring a concussion when the club head flies off in any direction.
Our first porch swing, several plastic and terra cotta planters and a pile of two-by-fours along with old cots and old patio blinds then got lowered to the floor. At last, it was empty. I put most of the stuff out with the trash but set the swing and golf clubs to the side of our driveway.
When I got home from work that Sunday night, I was happy to see that someone had already claimed the swing. The next morning, before the trash guys could arrive, someone else had claimed the old golf clubs either to take to the scrap yard or to play nine holes.
I smiled knowing our attic shed is clean and that the vintage porch swing and clubs now have a new home!
Kristin Emery can be reached at kristinemery1@yahoo.com.