My dad Jože was a carpenter in Cerklje na Gorenjskem. He was a hardworking man who crafted numerous wooden masterpieces. I know that carpentry was not just a profession for him, but a part of his identity and also a big part of our family story. He also passed on his knowledge and love for wood to his son Jože, who likewise became a renowned carpenter.
Quite a few items made by dad are still in our family home today. These are not just pieces of furniture, but also memories that he left behind. Of course, the tooth of time has already worn them down a bit, but precisely for this reason they hold a special value for all of us. Every little piece of wood tells its own story.
The central part of the living room consists of a table and chairs that our dad made more than 80 years ago. This is a space where we meet and talk. It is a space of laughter, celebrations and Sunday lunches, and above all, a space of old memories.
When our grandparents were still alive, the whole family would gather around the table (mum and dad had six children). This table is a reminder of all the stories they loved to tell; especially to us grandchildren. To this day, I still remember with what joy we sat around the shared table. That was a sense of belonging that I still miss today. Those were our simple shared events, when mum would make us white coffee with chicory, read us a fairy tale, or tell us stories from her childhood.
Time passes quickly and life goes on. New people and new events come along. A lot changes. Some habits are abandoned, people who used to be with us leave. But their presence remains. It remains in memories and in the stories that we now tell our children. Their presence also remains in the objects they left behind for us.
Sitting at this table today, it sometimes feels to me as though I can go right back to that very time, even though quite a few years have passed since then. To all of us, this table represents a precious memory of our ancestors, of our roots. Even today, it evokes feelings of belonging and the bond of our family within us.
Perhaps one day my grandchildren will also sit at the same table. And I want them to know the story of our grandad Jože. So that they too will appreciate his work and know the story of their ancestors.
This table is a piece of our family. It is a memory and proof that knowledge, values and love can be passed down from generation to generation.
Maja Grošelj, 11 August 2026
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