A LONG time ago in college, during an exam, we were asked to explain what the trickle-down effect was, and along with that, an example. While it was not the answer I wrote down, the first thing that actually came to my mind was hand-me-downs, because it had just been days before when I had given one of our nephews a slightly-worn pair of white baby shoes to pass on to their infant, my month-old grandson.
To give you an idea of how old the shoes were, they had originally belonged to my late sister’s baby, who was now in his late 30s. In turn, she had passed it on to us when our own baby was born.
Call it frugality if you will, but passing the boots (not the buck, mind you) is where it’s at in my family. That was the natural thing, I guess, when my parents, in their one-boy-one-girl startup drive for a family, produced a string of five straight boys, and finally a girl… with all growing faster than the clothes that they had on their backs.
During my high school in the 70s, when it became the teen trend to wear big polo shirts, Wednesdays (no uniform day) bore witness to what seemed like a sea of midgets on campus. Almost everyone in our batch wore dangling “Amboys” (as those shirts were called), the length of which reached down to our knees.
Of course, it was my favorite day, as I had lots of those Van Heusens, which I either inherited from my older brother, uncle, or my dad.
Now I don’t know if the passing on of “pre-loved” (millennial term for “used”) clothes and items to the next in line within the family is still practiced today. Aside from being economical, being able to maximize the usage of something can also be a bonding of sorts.
Consider, your newly-acquired, pre-loved Nikes may have a tale to tell, haha, especially if previously owned by an obsessive- compulsive uncle.
Seriously, people in ancient times had traditionally been handing down swords, spears, armor, and even land to the next generation, and regarding these as important heirlooms or inheritance. This practice meant many things to our ancestors. They’re symbols of heritage, responsibility, even honor.
Of course, now, a worn pair of shoes, or an old shirt, may not qualify under such lofty categories, but you catch the drift. At the very least, the family concept lives on, and more importantly, you stretch your peso.
With this in mind, I fervently hope everyone has got something stashed in safe storage for their grandchildren somewhere. New toys and new clothes may be necessary, yet they can also be boring sometimes, having no history attached to them. An old Tonka truck I have cleaned and saved from the destructive curiosity of its previous owner (another grandson) is already enjoyed by his baby. Quite literally, it’s the cherub’s turn at the wheels. Many years later, his dad can then say, please pass the toy.
