Woman Walks Past Grandparents' Decor for 20 Years—Then Realizes What It Is

1 month ago 6

A video showing a surprising discovery about a vintage home decor piece has taken social media by storm.

The clip posted by @secondhandsarahtonin has amassed 4.6 million views since it was shared on October 22. The footage was captured in Mississippi, according to a location shared with the post.

The video shows the poster's hand approaching a floral-themed decorative item that's been in her grandparents' home for decades. A note overlaid on the clip reads "Did I just find what I think I found at my grandparents' house?"

As the camera zooms in, the woman begins to remove small, detachable petal-like pieces from the floral item. In the video's caption, she wrote "I've walked past this thing so many times in the last 20 years and I'm just realizing."

The poster told Newsweek "My dad said he remembers it in their house in the early 70s," hinting at the piece's vintage roots.

The viral post comes as millennials prepare to inherit the belongings of their baby boomer parents, with many facing the reality of sorting through an overwhelming amount of accumulated "junk."

One in 40 people in the United States are said to have a hoarding disorder, according to a December 2023 article by Stanford Medicine.

Those with a hoarding disorder have "persistent difficulty getting rid of or parting with possessions due to a perceived need to save the items" and "attempts to part with possessions create considerable distress and lead to decisions to save them," explains the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

According to the APA, the overall prevalence of hoarding disorder is around 2.6 percent, with higher rates reported for those over 60 years old and those with other psychiatric diagnoses, especially anxiety and depression.

"Boomers grew up in a time of economic prosperity by parents shaped by the Great Depression. They are also collectors, whether Hummel figurines or a souvenir from every vacation," Regina Lark, a certified professional organizer, told Newsweek earlier this month.

The trend of "aging in place" means boomers are living in their homes longer, giving them more time to accumulate things, she added.

'Really Cool'

The video has captivated viewers on TikTok, with many speculating about the item's original purpose.

Several users pointed out that the piece was likely a vintage ashtray with individual detachable petals serving as portable ashtrays. User kia commented, "An ashtray flower, they're so pretty," while @thatroguegoblin said, "Vintage party ashtray! How cool!"

Others shared memories of similar items from their own homes, recalling a time when decorative ashtrays were common fixtures in social settings.

"Omg! How cool is that?!? I haven't seen an ashtray in years," wrote Colleen7269.

TikTok user SKYEFAWKES added, "It's a really cool ashtray...at parties people would carry the individual pieces with them."

The unexpected revelation resonated with other users who realized they owned similar pieces. Kelsey commented, "I've been dusting this thing for 15 years, I got it from my grandparents, and am today years old finding out it's an ashtray!!!"

Another viewer, Grimpel, wrote, "Oh no. You brought back a childhood memory. My parents used to have one. I loved to play with it (it was never used as an ashtray)."

Others shared fond memories tied to the item. "I love this ashtray. My dear friend Sue who had one for over 40 years," wrote michellefaithlove.