Family Heirlooms

Don't think we have valuable things in our family

I can say we've inherited more than we would have liked this year would prefer the people with us

Only thing I inherited is male pattern baldness.

I have been given a few family heirlooms, mainly jewellery. I am sentimental so I love receiving them and appreciate them

My Nan & Grandad had a sword from some ancient battle or other on their wall.

I was crest fallen when It wasn't given to me upon their death.

Looking back though, I can now see why leaving a sword to a 12 year old wouldn't have been the best idea.

I realised that although I knew what an heirloom was, and uderstanding the "heir" part of the word, didn't understand the "loom" part.

I found this which might interest others:

"The term originated with the historical principle of an heirloom in English law, a chattel which by immemorial usage was regarded as annexed by inheritance to a family estate. Loom originally meant a tool. Such genuine heirlooms were almost unknown by the beginning of the twentieth century".

I suppose the word is misused nowadays, heirlooms don't have to be of significant value. I've got a hammer that was my dad's.

I wish a friend of mine got a necklace from her granny and was worth 30k she didn't realise

I have recently had one of my family members sadly pass on (non-covid related) and the one thing I wanted has no monetary value, just sentimental one