I kept a sachet of artificial sweetener given to me randomly one afternoon by a friend I had a crush on. Neither of us used the stuff, we were just being silly.

I had it for a couple of years and kinda forgot about it, then the friend killed themself and it became unthinkable to get rid of it. Maybe a decade later I could finally bring myself to see it as just a pack of stale chemicals and throw it out.

It’s an egg shaped piece of marble from my mother, which is now sitting on my desk. It used to have a sticker labelled ‘Echt Marmor’ which means ‘real marble’ in german. I think it is older than I am. My mother is still around, but I’ve moved quite far away and this egg is currently my only keepsake.

A blanket my mom made me that’s as old as me. That blanket kept me warm when I was little and I’ll never get rid of it 😌

I have the knob off my first oven. When it burnt out my landlord opted to buy a new one instead of getting a new coil so I swiped the knob. It was the oven and stove I taught myself to cook on, I wouldn’t be who I am today of I hadn’t had to spend every night guessing the temp from that worn out knob.

On my first day of grade 8, the science teacher asked if anyone had a bill for a demonstration. I volunteered my $5 bill. He proceeded to douse it in some chemical and torch it, to the amusement of the class. It burned for a few seconds but the bill was unharmed. At first I didn’t spend it because I liked the story, but now I also won’t spend it because it’s the last paper bill I have (all Canadian bills have been plastic for a while).

I have a flyer for an event that my highschool crush gave me and I jokingly told her I’d treasure it forever.

I guess I’m just not a guy who can go back on a promise like that.

I (a guy) think I still have a small plastic off-brand Lego in my desk. I spent a weekend with my high school crush and we found a bunch of them and had goofy fun with them.

Last I heard she’d moved away, married a woman, and had a successful career in science. I doubt she thinks of me, but I’m glad she did well.

Found a massive pine cone in Rome when I visited about 24 years ago.

Not really sure why I kept it but I did.

My deceased mom’s drivers license. Carry it with me in my wallet.

A chunk of glass that I found walking to school one day in like 1997. It’s like an inch thick. No idea where it would have came from. If I can find a picture when I get home I will upload it. Now it just reminds me of childhood wonder.

One of my gran’s handkerchiefs. It’s monogrammed with her initials and it’s the only thing of hers I have. Don’t worry, it’s clean and I never use it. 😁

Little magnetic shopping list board that sticks on the fridge. Lost a really wonderful dog a few years ago and had written a list for her that included a lot of quality of life stuff for her final days.

After she passed, I just never wrote on that board again. It got packed and moved to a new house where it sits once again on the refrigerator. Time has hardened the ink on the board and it won’t come off again, but I just physically can’t throw it away.

It’s stupid. She’s been gone 4 years now. I’m just powerless xD

I have a small piece of scrap rebar on my kitchen window leftover from when we had the foundation fixed.

I wear a black ring with the initials of a person who I thought would be with me till the day I die. They left me a bit ago but I still wear this as the only gift I ever got from this person. I hope they’re doing good wherever and however they are

A buttplug containing the ashes of my passed boyfriend