I was cleaning my basement because it’s cool down there. Found a small 10-drawer reproduction “apothecary” chest I’d bought at a yard sale 24 years ago but never had a use for, and decided it was going to Goodwill. Brought it up and cleaned it off. I heard a rattle. Pulled all the drawers out and found first a long cultured pearl necklace, then a silver and turquoise squash blossom necklace, then a Hawaiian koa seed necklace, a silver and turquoise bracelet, a silver drop necklace on a leather thong, a tiny beaded leather butterfly brooch, a gold colored heart locket with photos and a few other things. I felt like a kid in a fantasy of found treasure. Exciting!

Luckily I know who it belongs to, and I was able to contact them. She is a long ago retired coworker who moved from Maine to Florida in 2001. The squash blossom necklace is from New Mexico and quite old; it belonged to her husband’s mother. It’s a happy ending!

And what a memory! I know where I got most of the stuff, but there are a few things I can't remember where they came from. I bet the coworker was thrilled to have a mystery solved!

And yes, it’s good that these things will go where they will be loved.