Memorabilia - or in my case - Schmaltz

"Schmaltz" you say? Yeah I am kind of a gushing sentimentalist. "Memorabilia is just not enough for me. I have to take it one step further...that's where "Schmaltz" comes in.

I mean, my brain seems to automatically focus on the good memories...with few exceptions. Take my office for example. No wait, you wouldn't want to actually take it. Perhaps I should instead say; Consider my office for example. There; that's a lot less risk to you. 

I mean, my office is cluttered with memories; family photos by the dozen's plus Harley Davidson dealer and event pins by the hundreds. Plus, plaques all over the place. I even have "A Pot To Piss In" but that is literally another story.  Then there's the papers and souvenirs of various other forms that sort of round it all out.

So to support my point I took a picture.  I am going to insert it right here and then follow with a detailed (yawn.....) explanation. Here goes:

Numbered Memories - a few of many
(Click the pic and it will get bigger...I hope)

1. Julieann Marie - high school graduation picture, a year before we met at her birthday celebration in a mountain top club.
2. Museum of California poster - saw it on a highway billboard and called the museum to see if they had prints - "yes!" Ordered same.  A couple of years later I would have my own, Harley that is.
3. Two golf club racks made by my Father-in-law Casey Thomas (RIP).  I loved him like my own.  The clubs; antiques I collected while on the road.
4. Tyler Thomas Campbell's first home run ball.  A southpaw specializing in opposite field line drives, he was the finest pure hitter many of us had ever seen and he batted almost .600 in consecutive years to prove it.  
5. A leap of love for music at his band's first album release. Arden Park Roots would go on to enter the Sacramento Music Hall of Fame, release four albums and set attendance records (almost 8,000 in 2016) three years running at Sacramento's Concert's In The Park.
6. Daughter Samantha Marie as a teen at the top of San Francisco's Twin Peaks.
7. Plaques commemorating Arden Park Roots two latest albums; "Pipe Dreams" and "Burning the Midnight Oil."
8. A decorative chopper presented to me by pal of almost 50 years, Dr. Bernard Buecker.  Holds inscription that says; "World's Greatest Author" to honor my book, "Badass" about the Harley Davidson experience.  (Ben has perfect perception by the way.)
9. A cast paw print from Molly Campbell; a beautiful in mind, body and spirit Golden Retriever who gave our family more than 13 wonderful years.  Molly's ashes are in the urn beneath the cast.
10. Two personally hand painted wooden decoys.  First is from Julie Campbell to Tom in '87 and second is from Tom Campbell to his father Francis LeRay Campbell (RIP) in '91.
11. Framed poster made by Samantha Campbell in '95 at age 6.  It reads; "If I were President, I woed make shore that ivrething was fare.  and I woed make shore that ifreone had pec and ckwit. and for kids I'd care."  I had it framed and hung it in my office on American River Drive that year.  I told Samantha I hoped one day she "woed" hang it in her office.

And that's it Doooooooooood.  On just one office wall and this is stuff is plastered all over.  But there's more, much more. More than enough to fill a book or two and I have with "Travel On" and "Badass."  In fact, I would say more than my share, which explains why Julieann contends that I have led a "charmed life."  I say the "charm" is in the wonderful people I've met and the great experiences I've had along the way.