The Magic Turtle — A Story About Memories, Love, and Choosing What Matters Most

As a professional organizer, I guide people daily through the process of downsizing, decluttering, and closing estates. For seniors, this can be an emotional time. On one hand, there’s excitement for the new chapter ahead — whether that’s moving into an active living or assisted living community — but on the other, there’s sadness, anxiety, and even guilt in letting go of cherished memories, stories, and legacy items.

Often, I hear:
“My children or grandchildren will surely take it. These are valuable collectibles, family history, antiques — items that have been in our family for generations. I’ll call them, and they can take them.”

Then the phone call ends, and with tears in their eyes, my client says, “I don’t understand. Nobody wants them. Now what do we do?”

The truth is simple — but it’s not an answer the older generation wants to hear or can easily understand: Why wouldn’t my great-grandfather’s handmade furniture or my mother’s gorgeous china be wanted? And if it’s not wanted, what happens to it?

That’s when I sit knee to knee, eye to eye, and tell them the story of The Magic Turtle.

Summers with Gramma

My sister and I were the only grandchildren on my father’s side, and let me tell you — I hit the jackpot having Marian Kelly Little as my Gramma! I’m not sure how the arrangement started, but every summer, Gramma insisted we be flown to Tucson, Arizona, so she could care for us, spoil us, pour into us, and simply love us. Those summers were pure magic.

Gramma had a gift for interior design and a love for the finer things in life. Her home was stunning — every detail carefully chosen to set a mood. She was always impeccably dressed, with beautiful dresses, shoes, handbags, and jewelry. Over the years, she inherited many treasures and cared for each one with joy. Everything about her — and her home — was elegant, proper, and full of quality.

In 2001, when Gramma suddenly passed away, our hearts shattered. She was truly the glue of our little family. When I arrived in Tucson, it was hard to walk into her beautiful home and not see her there.

Me, my Gramma and my sister Kerry

Choosing What to Keep

My Grandad got to work, sorting through safety deposit boxes, jewelry, china, sterling, art, collectibles, and heirlooms passed down for generations. Surely we would want all of these things to take home and make part of our lives.

But the answer was… no.

Instead, I walked into the kitchen and saw Gramma’s African violets in the window — just as I’d seen them all my life. They were always enormous and blooming like crazy. One day as a child, I asked her, “How do you get them so big and full of flowers?”

She leaned closer, parted the leaves, and with a wink said, “The magic is in the turtle.”

Nestled in the soil was a small, carved stone turtle, painted in soft shades of green, blue, and orange. In that moment, I truly believed it was the secret to her prize-winning blooms.

The Only Thing I Wanted

Years later, after I married, I tried to grow African violets of my own. They died. Every time. My non–green thumb was well established.

So when Gramma passed, and Grandad showed me all of her beautiful and valuable belongings, all I wanted were those magic turtles from her kitchen window. I told him, “This is what I really want — Gramma’s magic turtles.”

He smiled, a little confused, but I explained that the turtles held the strongest memory for me. I knew Gramma probably never would have guessed that’s what I’d treasure most — but they were my connection to her. (Well… those and the Monopoly Buddha, but that’s a story for another time.)

And here’s the best part: the magic was in the turtle. Twenty-four years later, my violets are still blooming beautifully — and every time I see them, I feel Gramma close.

24 years later, my Gramma’s violets are still going strong! Love my magic turtle.

What This Means for You

I tell my clients: let your children and grandchildren choose what they want. You may be surprised. Support what they take — whether it’s a valuable heirloom or something small and unexpected.

You see, the younger generation often treasures the memory connection over the monetary value. They want something that ties them to you, not necessarily to generations past. The senior generation tends to carry the weight of preserving the memories of those who are gone, but your loved ones are looking for something that reminds them of their time with you.

That’s the struggle.

So here’s my advice: find joy in what they do take, because it connects them to your life and love. Then take a deep breath, let go of what remains, and release the guilt of carrying it for decades.

Sometimes, the real treasure… is just a magic turtle.