Tote bag found in the attic

 

This valise/suitcase belonged to my father, who was stationed in Germany in the 1950s.  He died in 1974.  My mother died in 2023.  She insisted for years that there was nothing in the attic.  Last year, I went through her dresser and chest of drawers, her closets, her cabinets, boxes, the basement and the garage, but I was unable to get into the attic.

I had someone go up there in 2024, mainly to see if there were any holes in the roof or siding.  He found this case, which I do not remember at all.  I have no idea how long it was in there.  All that it contained were those springs, which I believe are for a garage door opener track.  The valise leather was very hard and ripped and the zipper was broken, so there was no value to it and I eventually put it out for the trash.  There was nothing valuable inside, such as money or jewelry or stock certificates like you see in the movies.  We looked!  We even felt through the lining!

The luggage freaked me out, because I never knew it existed and there is no one left on my father's side of the family to ask about this.  I felt like I'd seen a ghost!