A basement flood can be a gift of sorts.  I had to empty out a closet downstairs and came across a box labeled Mum's stuff.  Obviously it was packed up after mum died in 2013 and I hadn't looked at it since.  The newspaper used to wrap stuff was also labeled 2013 so I know I haven't looked at those things for thirteen years.  It's hard to believe that she's been gone that long and I miss her still.  

So what was in the box?  This Hummel figurine for one, which I didn't realize I had kept.  Mum had a few Hummel figurines that she had bought in Germany while we lived there.  Mum had quite a few knick-knacks and they were part of my life growing up; each one had to be moved to dust underneath it on a regular basis.  I have no memory of what happened to them when mum died but I kept one which I'm glad of.  Mum kept a clean house.  When I was growing up she cleaned the bathroom daily, something which just boggles my mind now.

There were also pay booklets that belonged to my dad when he was in the army during WW2 which will be 100 years old in just a few more years.  There were letters and a few other things.  Jack was with me when I opened the box and started pulling things out.  I ugly cried and he gave me a hug.  He's so very gentle and kind with me, sometimes.  I didn't know what to do with the stuff, don't know who might want it, so I packed it up and moved it to an upstairs closet. 

Everything that was damaged has been removed from the basement except for the utility sink which wasn't damaged but which was a piece of crap.  I can't disconnect the sink by myself so my husband will do that.  A bin will be ordered to put all the garbage in and have it hauled away.  The new flooring has been picked out and once I get that our contractor will come back and fix everything up for us.  Then I will put lots of shelving into the utility room and organize the room so we can find things.  The bedroom will be set up once more and hopefully things return to normal.

Jack spent last night at the lake with his grandma and mom.  His mom appears to be medicated, with what I don't know but her affect is blunted.  Grandma will be with them supervising, I hope.  Because we had the night off, my husband and I went out for supper and I ran into a nurse I worked with for years.  She actually doesn't live far from us but we rarely see each other.  It was nice to catch up with her and meet her baby grandson.

I don't feel 100% this morning, coughing and congested, so I called and cancelled my outing with Katie.  I feel guilty because I know Katie will be upset but I also don't want to make her sick.  Last night I thought it was just the smoke making me feel congested and making me cough, but it's a cold (not a man cold thankfully) so I will survive.