Those things you hang on to....

[Rodney]

What do you have that's been with you forever, that you've been using and taking for granted for years and decades, that's never let you down until one day you're holding it and say "Damn, how long _have_ I had this thing?"

I was slicing squash for super the other night with this all-purpose kitchen knife -- cuts nearly everything, but not so sharp as to get you in trouble, and a good serrated edge. It has a plastic handle with a pattern of fruits and veggies on it, and I took a look and realized that it was so old that the tomatoes had turned pale pink. Thinking back on it, I bought this knife when I first moved out of my parents' house, nearly 30 years ago -- at the flea market, no less. Three decades of service -- jeez, maybe it'll last my entire life.

What've you got that's useful and reliable and unobstrusive and has been with you forever?

[quadro2000]

Other than my penis?

I have a navy blue shirt that says MICHIGAN on it. I've had it for 14 years now, and the damn thing is still too big for me. I wear it around the house all the time.

My dad has a hippie-ish flowered windbreaker that he got in the late 60s. I always thought it was white with flowers on it. One day, I passed somebody who had the exact same one, except it was blue. I realized later, when looking at the inside of my dad's sleeves, that his was blue too - just worn from the sun while he wore it in both the summer and the winter. He still wears it all the time, and I use it whenever I'm cold (and he doesn't have it on).

[ShaniFaye]

I have and still use my great grandmothers rolling pin

its been used to make LOTS of sugar cookies and biscuits

[meembo]

a sweat shirt I got when I was 16, when I ran in cross country for my high school. I can't believe it hasn't disintegrated

[Ripsaw]

Grandma's wok. I've had it for at least ten years now. Many more years of use left in it.

[tropple]

I have old uniforms and crap that are boot camp issue. I still use the sea bag for carrying things.

[Cynthetiq]

Cotton Avirex Flight Jacket with "Sack Time" embroidered on the back.

had it since 1985.

[amonkie]

My mom saved all my dolls/toys from when I was younger, one in particular is a little doggie teddy thing that I got while in the hospital 20 years ago. Other than that, homework from 3rd grade.

[ShaniFaye]

I still have the IV bottle (back when they still used glass ones) from when I got my tonsils out in 1985...come to think of it I still have the jar my tonsils are in too

[bigoldalphamale]

a joint that a friend rolled for me halloween of 94. lost it in my car that night and didnt find it again until i had stopped smoking. been sitting in my dresser drawer smiling up at me every morning for 10 years. tempting me. DAMN THAT JOINT!!!!!!!!

[Carno]

Nothing... I'm only 19 though.

[scout]

I have my first 20 gauge shotgun my parents got me for Christmas when I was 10 thirty years ago. I have a Firestone ashtray that a old lady gave me when I was 16.
I don't know if this counts or not, but I have a electric road racing set, little green army men and a skyscraper set I had when I was like 3-6 yrs old. My aunt saved them for me and gave them to me about 10 years ago.
I know theres more I just can't think of any right now.

[ibis]

I've kept this stuffed bear forever... had it since I was an infant.
[removed]
It sits above my desk. This picture was taken just now with my webcam.

[ironman]

not a single thing

[la petite moi]

I have clothes that I still wear from five years ago, when I was in junior high.

[unoaman]

I have a pounded copper ashtray that I made in college. It's totally worthless in that any cigarette placed in it will go out in about 1 minute. I have never really tried to save it, but no matter where I move to, it always manages to turn up.