While I'm sorry you lost these precious mementos, it's heartening to hear Beastie stories from one of the 'freest' of the Beastie-free contingent.
I too have been philosophical about Yauch's final gifts to us; namely, his absence in the latter part of his life. He laid low, and in a sad but necessary way got the world used to not having him around. It's painful, but that gave us the opportunity to maintain hope while (somewhat) adjusting to him being absent.
I dunno. I'm just talking shit.