Holding On: When Every Object Tells a Story | On Tour With the Kid

Hi, my name is Chloe, and I am a hoarder—but not with piles of newspapers blocking the door. For me, it’s about sentimentality. I keep every piece of my child’s artwork and every memento from the shows I’ve worked on. I save reminders of long-gone relatives, including their antique furniture, because of the memories attached.

I suspect this tendency runs in my family. Among my grandfather’s belongings, I’ve found items from relatives long gone. There’s an oil painting of my great-grandfather, who was a firefighter, looking dapper in his uniform. There’s also a red velvet box of letters from his courtship with my great-grandmother, beginning in 1911 and continuing through the start of World War II.

With all these family treasures, I’ve come to value the irreplaceable history and memories each item represents. But as my child and I make new memories, my collection keeps growing. Even with a large shed, special items still get tucked away. I know I should sort through everything and let some things go, but it’s always tricky. Every piece brings a wave of memories and emotions, which makes it hard to part with them. My struggle isn’t just with clutter, but with letting go of what these things mean to me.

Most people can relate to keeping family things. I cherish every card from relatives who have passed, as well as letters from childhood friends, even my teen diaries. Any secret I didn't want people to know, I would write in broken French, using a pocket French-to-English dictionary. I don't speak French, so without the translation, I couldn't tell you what it said. Ironically, my mother spoke French, so nothing was really a secret.

I even find it difficult to part with things without that family connection. When I moved back from the US after following the wrong boy yet again, the first job I took on Australian soil was working the red carpet at the AFI Awards. Heath Ledger was nominated and won for Brokeback Mountain. He also accepted an award on behalf of Rachel Griffiths, who wasn’t there.

After I took him offstage for his interviews, he handed me both winning envelopes and asked me to throw them out, so he didn’t have to hold them. There was also a hilarious moment on the carpet between him and Magda Szubanski, which I encourage you to find. I still have those envelopes. Not long after those awards, Heath was gone. I can’t bring myself to throw them away.

Recently, when faced with a decision about moving my grandmother’s large buffet, I was reminded again of how challenging it is to let go. Although it wasn’t a traditional heirloom, it was still a connection to her. Letting go was easier when I found Flip2thrive, an online furniture flipper. She is a mum who uses the money she earns to save for her dream house. Giving the piece a new life helped me balance the importance of holding onto memories and learning to pass things on. I can't wait to see what she does with it.