Like almost everyone we know, we began doing a great deal of reflection and connection with family and friends as the Covid-19 pandemic progressed. Reflection and connection came together during our weekly Zoom chat with five other couples-close friends from childhood.  Rather than “share” cocktails or play Bingo, as we had done on earlier chats, we engaged in a “show and tell” of sorts.  Everyone showed a cherished object from childhood and then told the story of why they chose it/why they’ve kept/why it is important.  

This turned into a special, surprising, revealing evening—and led us to think about creating a forum/website where anyone and everyone could do the same thing.  Ever since the virus had turned things upside down, we’d been thinking about ways in which we might use our own skills to make a difference. Creating a site for people—who now more than ever are reflecting on their lives—to share a slice of their own histories with others seemed a worthy enterprise.  

Thus: storied-stuff.com.  As the title suggests, our intention is to solicit personal stories about cherished objects, post these stories several days a week, and offer a forum for discussion.  Contributors will be able to present these stories by sending us a photo of the object accompanied by text (maximum 250 words give or take, less if you wish) explaining why it was chosen/kept/its importance. 

Storied-stuff.com is the creation of husband and wife/writers/editors/writing workshop leaders, Steve Fiffer and Sharon Fiffer, who cherish each other and all the objects that fill their home in the Chicago area.

Many thanks to our website designers/consultants, Kate Sloan Fiffer and Chris Bomm.