The items that made Tara and I melancholy were, however, different. For Tara it was when she found some of the first shirts and outfits that we got Derrick in 2001 when we got custody. For me, it was when we were going through the books that he no longer reads. There were four titles that I was sad to see go.
Two, Fox in Sox and Green Eggs and Ham were purchased from the Target near where we lived in Wheaton at the time, on the Saturday after Derrick was dropped off. Tara had worked that day, and was taking a nap and so I was left having to entertain a five-year-old who was, understandably, a bit confused by the whole situation. I ended up taking him over to the Target and picked up a few things that I thought might keep him busy. That included the two books. Later -- and I think that it was after I had read one or both to him -- Tara informed me that Derrick wouldn't listen to people reading to him. But that quickly changed.
The other two are books I bought later for Derrick, both of which are collections of stories that I really liked as a kid. One contains Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel and Katy and the Snowy Day as well as three others by the same author/artist. The other is a collection of stories about Harry the Dirty Dog. I almost didn't let them sell the first collection (and had to re-read a couple of the stories before I let it get priced).
I had a much easier time getting rid of some of my VHS tapes that we hardly ever watch, an old CD case and a hedge trimmer we used only once.
So, if you aren't going to DucKon, can easily get to Rockford Illinois, and are looking for boys clothes (in surprisingly good shape), and kids books, let me know and I'll point you to my in-laws garage sale.
