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Neat Stuff

As your life progresses, you cannot help but to accumulate “neat stuff”. There is no specific definition of what neat stuff is, but it seems they are objects that you have great interest in. They can be memorabilia from family, friends, travel or objects you came across unexpectedly but set your imagination ablaze.
During a visit to Montreal to visit my daughter, a McGill student at the time, I had several hours of free time and started wandering down a street close to where she lived. I came across a rather disorganized, ramshackle store that seemed a hybrid of an antique store and an army surplus store. There was a myriad of extremely interesting objects from all over the world. The store owner would explain what each of them was but had no real proof of their true identity. No matter to me…as I spied what seemed like a misshapen somewhat rusty German helmet from WWII. The owner explained that he did many world travels and would pick up artifacts that he could sell at a profit back home.
During a trip to Russia, he was near what was previously known as Stalingrad (now Volgograd). The battle of Stalingrad Aug 1942-Feb 1943 was likely the turning point in the war against the axis powers. The German army along with partners from Italy and Romania tried to overtake Stalingrad and from there control the great oilfields in the Caucasus. If they were successful in achieving this, the war would have ended up much differently.
Casualties on the axis side were estimated at about 800,000 whereas Russia suffered over 1,300,000. This battle has been described as the greatest defeat in the history of the German army. The store owner had many conversations with people in the area, many of whom were alive at that time.
The casualties were so numerous, that pits were excavated, and the bodies were pushed in and then covered. Over time, contents of these pits appeared near the surface, sometimes when a farmer was ploughing his field. This twisted helmet was an example of this. What a piece of history this was, and I definitely purchased it. Looking at it now makes me think of what those soldiers experienced…many of whom froze and starved to death.
The store owner sensed my enthusiasm and showed me another artifact that he had hidden in a drawer below the counter. Somewhat secretly he showed me “dog tags” retrieved from the same area as the helmet. These were intact and simply plowed into the earth with the rest. Usually, the tag which identified the soldier had two identical halves-half to be registered and family notified and the other to remain with the body. Perhaps it was somewhat unethical, but I purchased these as well.
My wife has allowed me one room where I keep all these memorabilia…deemed my “neat stuff” room. Some objects are much more interesting than others, but I can’t bring myself to throw anything away. Each one has a story of its own.