Just a little announcement:
I’m excited to let you know I have another essay appearing in the current issue of Alexandria Living magazine!
It’s always a thrill to work with the kind folks at the magazine and as an Alexandria, Virginia resident it is especially fun to contribute.
Below is the link to my piece in the online version of Alexandria Living. If you like, please comment on the magazine website in the space they provide just below the essay.
We would love to hear your feedback!
https://alexandrialivingmagazine.com/lifestyle/i-just-might-keep-that-stuart-perkins-red-marble/
Thanks again to all those who’ve asked what I’ve been up to lately. Blogging continues to be great fun and has proven to be an exciting pathway to opportunities like this. Exciting!
Stuart M. Perkins
Storyshucker 
Congratulations, Stuart! It is always a special honour to have one’s creative work published.
Yes it is! Thanks again Peter!
What a great story to have published. I am sitting here wondering now about all the trinkets i have thrown out over the years and the many moves along the way. All with their lost stories now.
Thanks Shannon!
I LOVE your story-telling, Stuart. This one really spoke to me. I not only left a comment there, but I reposted it to my FB site http://www.facebook.com/janbeekman
Thanks Jan! I appreciate all of your support. You always have such nice things to say and great comments Thank you again!
You’re welcome. Thank you for sharing your talent.
Congrats! I have a glass bowl with a dozen or so marbles setting on the shelf. They were my great aunt’s who I occasionally visited as i child. Your article reminded me of the sentimental attachment I have to those marbles.
I love that and what a fun idea to have the bowl out to see every day!
The small glass bowl was also my great aunt’s, so that is also special.
Congratulations! Great little story. Warming my heart this morning as I picture some of the treasured trinkets in my own safe-keeping boxes. Thank you ❤
They are such fun reminders. Thanks for the comment!
You really are a consummate storyteller, Stuart, as I remarked to the magazine. At 79, I’m faced with more and more downsizing, and it’s reaching that point where the precious smaller things have to come under consideration. The stories behind most are so deeply embedded in my spirit that they are unlikely to disappear, and my mind is sharp enough to remember. But oh, the feel of them in my hands or the sight of them to my eyes make my decisions poignant. Thanks for the reminder that the visible is even more powerful than we reckon!
Thanks for that! And I don’t envy your downsizing… I’m 57 and have plenty of things I should probably get rid of and we kids recently helped my 85 year old mother go through her attic… I was on sensory overload! Haha! Thanks for such a great comment.
I have a shoebox of mementos and carry a tiny pocket knife that belonged to my grandfather. It’s really only good for letters or string but it was his and I think of him whenever I look at it. Thanks again Stuart.
Exactly! Just a glance at things like that and so many memories pop up. Love it. Thanks again!
Awesome. Congratulations Stuart
Thanks!
As someone who tends to keep sentimental trinkets and with a grandmother like the one in your story, this article warmed and touched me! it was an honor to add my comments for the magazine!
I love it. Grandmothers are an excellent source of fun trinkets with great stories. Thanks for the comment!
What a gift you gave (returned) to the woman on the metro! Sentiment is not a waste, not when it connects us all the more to our humanity and to each other.
Congratulations on your publishing success!
Thanks Dora! Meeting that woman reminded me of some of the things I’d saved that I hadn’t looked at in years. I went home and pulled them all out to “re-remember”! Thanks again.
Stuart, loved this and I can so relate! One day when I’m gone my son will wonder why I kept so many silly things, but each has a memory to me! Millicent
Thanks Millicent! Well, he may wonder for a while but not for long! I think we all start to see the sentimental value in things at some point, and that value IS priceless. Thanks again!
Those trinkets connect us to our past allowing us to visit our memories. Great comfort.
I enjoyed this tale and will put a link to it in Agnellus Mirror next month. Mt grandson is happy to play with my toy trains and cars from the 1950s and I love to see them used as intended!
Thanks for that! I agree, with all of the techno-fun kids are able to have these days it’s great to watch them light up when they get to play with some of the things we had. I loved it when my son fell in love with some of my old Matchbox cars… old clunky REAL metal ones! Thanks again.
Yes they do. Instant reminders. Love that. Thanks for the comment!
It’s funny. There’s an exercise for minimizing. You start out keeping 25 of your most important things. Then 10. Then five, then one. This would be too hard. They’d have to keep the things and throw me out.
Haha! I totally understand and agree!
Your little stories always take me back with pleasant memories. With sweet memories a few happy tears must fall. Affectionately, Kitty
Kitty! I wish I’d kept that Christmas bow…! I hope you’re staying safe and sane out there!
Congratulations! And glad that you’re having good opportunities like this.
Thanks for that!
Beautifully written story!
Thanks!
I love that story, I have a whole house full of trinkets!
Thanks! Then you have a house full of stories!
Yay!
This is such a heart-warming story.
Thank you!
I always love your stories. You tell them so well.
Thank you for that!
Sweet story. Love it!
Thanks Gigi!
What a lovely “Total Recall” moment as most of us moms would no doubt have. Far too often over the years my bottomless pit of a backpack produced a Hot Wheels car intended to occupy a son who has long since grown up. Thanks for conjuring that memory up in my addled brain. These COVID days have definitely made focus and concentration a thing of the past. Congrats on getting another lovely story published. Well done, Stuart!
Thanks! And you reminded me of Hot Wheels… hahah, love that!
Congratulations!
Thank you!
Wow, how exciting! Congratulations!
Thanks!
Beautiful story and priceless memories!
Thank you!
It is a beautiful story. 🤗❤️
Thanks!
Congratulations! This is amazing. 🙂
Thank you!
That was a great story and reminds me of my maternal grandmother, my mom and my aunt. They kept things too and I have several trinkets around the house that remind me of each of them. They have all passed on but those few items are great reminders of my childhood. Then I have a few things that my children made over the years for Mother’s Day. I kept some of my favorites and glad I did as they are all grown with kids of their own. Thank you for sharing and congratulations on your publication. 😊
Thanks Lisa! I still find things to save… always will I guess. But most things really do have a great story! Thanks again for that great comment.
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Thanks for that! Fun!
Congratulations! And what a gem. Your essay was a joy to read and took me to the seat across the isle. I hope you don’t mind my intrusion, I couldn’t help coming along. I love trinkets and have so many! I recently moved into a much smaller home and have so many things in storage. How I miss coming across them. My purses have typically been like hers and I love it. I even had a pine cone in a purse for months! Lol Rocks, game pieces, wrappers with quotes, and all manner of doodads. Such a pleasure! Thank you again.
Awesome! I commented on the articles’ post as well! Love it!
Thanks for the compliment! I really appreciate that.
You’re so welcome!
I remember this story of yours, and love it. So glad the magazine loved it too!
Thanks as always for your constant encouragement!
congrats! so happy for you! i love your story, it really did warm my heart. thank you for sharing, have a great day!☺️
Follow @everythingtips for tips and recommendations if interested☺️It would mean a lot to me!🥺🤍
Thanks for that!
A wonderful story! Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks!