The answer, of course, is ‘it depends’.

Consider that the desk you remember your grandpa sitting at this recording transactions and sorting papers for his business was just a tool.  Ask yourself, was the desk something important to him as if ‘doing books’ was something he enjoyed?  If no, perhaps this desk is not a legacy.  What if the desk was worn out when it was purchased and has been patched, nailed, screwed, cracked, hinged, and all sorts of problems that barely keep it together?  Is it worth keeping?

Since my guys (son, Dallas, and my husband), with great effort, moved this awkward, bulky, heavy, desk across the basement, up the stairs and outside (we had to remove the door to get it through the doorway), around the house to the front door, which we had by then premeasured to see if it, too, needed removal (thankfully it didn’t – it was a close fit), then into the northwest bedroom we had long since abandoned  to a piano room (it was the only room the piano would go into except for the living room), these were questions i now ask myself.

As Dallas noted, ‘it’s too worn out to sell, but too nice to throw away.’  However, this is the last time, i plan to ask anyone to move it again.  If someone in the family wants it, of course, they could move it.  🙂

The reality is that the desk, though it did belong to Grandpa, was not important to him and it does not lend itself to a modern business.  Add that it is barely flying together in close formation and it no longer has value to me, sentimental or otherwise.

The important legacy he gave me is my love for the land and cattle I now care for.  He and my grandma put together a good deal more than a section of land and when i walk across the pastures and climb through ditches and enjoy watching cattle still grazing the hills he and i rode over together, and even when it’s time to fix fence and repair corrals- that is the more important memory.  My goals are to continue to improve and regenerate the land as did Grandpa and Grandma in their generation.