As I mentioned in Day 616: Nostalgia, I recently recovered some old papers from the basement of a home I occupied with my ex-husband, Leon, for many years. Since then, I’ve been going through cards, letters, photos, and other memories, deciding what to keep from now on.
How do we ever make decisions, like those?
Today, I’ll show you some things I’ve kept so far.
A card that a very kind doctor — whom I’ll never forget — sent me, soon after I got my first cardiac pacemaker at age 10.
A letter that a dear friend (and her dear mother) wrote me, during one of my many return trips to the hospital after that.
A letter that several of my classmates worked on, while I was spending time in Children’s Hospital.
A letter from somebody I met during one of my early hospital stays:
More Get Well wishes from people I knew way-back-when (and some I know here-and-now).
Stuff from my late parents and their friends:
Stuff I received from nice guys (including a forgotten gift from a musician appearing in many of my blog posts):
Stuff I received from nice gals:
Things from people I met at various work places:
Things I created that came back to me:
What do I keep? What do I share? Does it matter?
And if these things matter, whom might they matter to, besides me?
What should we preserve, from the scribblings of one life?
No matter what I decide about these buried treasures, all of them are preserved, for now, in one heart.
Thanks to everyone reading these scribblings and ramblings, today.
Keep them all Ann. Very touching.
Diana xo
I will keep your comment, too, Diana.
Ann xo
Hi Ann, You have scanned them all into the computer for this Blog. I have some of the same issues with paper and am working toward going digital; however there are some things too precious.
Thank you for this precious comment, Mary.
I think it’s memories like these that ought to be treasured. It reminds you that you have been loved and cared for especially at times when you may feel anything otherwise. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I found this comment very touching. I will treasure this, also. Thank you.
Fantastic memories.
xxx Hugs Galore xxx
More fantastic hugs! Many thanks, David.
Don’t you dare part with one single thing, Ann, if you can help it. Keep the paper, pretty please. Digital crashes and this stuff is too dear to trust to the cloud. My opinion. Just a suggestion. I would assume that every cherished old pen stroke on yellowing paper means something to you, still. What a beautiful life they mark, my friend.
I will keep the paper, Mark, don’t you worry. I was upset when I retrieved these memories, at first, because there was some water damage. So far, everything’s been salvageable. Thanks for yet another beautiful comment.
What great feelings of love and happiness in those memories…makes me feel good about all the letter/scraps/mementos I have stored in a closet back home 🙂 Such a great set of memories and happiness you have with you ~
And your comment makes me feel great, Randall!
Thanks for sharing your life experiences Ann 🙂
My pleasure, Irene. Thanks for sharing these with me.
This must have been so heart warming going through such loving memories and photographing them for us. It fills my heart too 🙂 I have a draw in a bureau for my “memories”….. The idea was to contain them as we moved houses.
I also have an attic that is probably a fire hazard …. 😉
We all have our stories and having momentos lets us remember them
Val x
I like the idea of having a drawer for these, Val. I have several more of these memories to go through, and I’ve been wondering about how to contain them. Thank you, as usual, for a loving and heart-warming comment.
These are just amazing and how much better that you spread their warmth on the internet than keep them shut up in their box for evermore.
I am very warmed by this comment, Hilary. Thank you!
Keep them in a box, such nice memories!
Thank you, Ute!
Pingback: Day 731: Small change | The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally