There comes a time in all persons’ lives when they have to face the past. In this case, I mean excavating in the tools cabinet.

I’ve lived where I am for several decades, and only today bought a magnetic stud finder so I can hang a mirror.

Digging through the old tools, I walked back to my college years where I got my first screwdrivers, a drill, and needle-nosed pliers. I always loved the name of those. But I had a time finding the bits for the power drill.

I discovered I had over 10 screwdrivers, some very small, some large, one super-long which I inherited to fix toilets. (Don’t ask.) I realized that many of these entered my life in the years of the early computers when I’d have to open the back to insert hardware, or fix my sewing machines. Now we’ve moved into an era when (most of us) don’t touch the innards of the computers anymore.

Cords are standardized in general. I just gave away an aged Blue-ray DVD which had one HDMI and a set of red-yellow-white component plugs. I suspect the library who got it has just as ancient equipment as the player, and it will be useful.

I had at least 12 pliers. Some were basic rounded topped, some square topped, and capable of cutting wire. My father taught me basic wiring. I put it off until necessary, and most of the time nowadays, it isn’t. Then there were the small ones for doing earrings. Didn’t have the heart to toss them this time.

The old Sears Craftman power drill needed a charge. Had to search in the closet for the drill bits. I may upgrade with some new ones.

Weeding through my tool box, and bins of Things-I-Thought-Were-Useful-To-Keep, I can’t even identify some of the contents, but I’m sure they were very important fifteen or thirty years ago. I have now a designated extension cord bag for indoor, outdoor, and who knows what electrical connectors.

I didn’t even take on the nails, screws, bolts and various pronged things I probably bought in college for an art class in jewelry making. Next clean out.

But why three electric screwdrivers? One is a pivot driver. One is a tiny Ryobi hand driver from a sibling. And the other one, the big daddy set, I inherited. I suspect it will be the first to go to a yard sale.

I put them all away neatly realizing that I probably won’t be remembering everything there. But it will be awaiting my next home improvement need. The one after fixing the lamp. I approach it cautiously.