The Collection

How does one organize the days they have collected for almost 60 years? I'm not sure. All the pictures, the videos, the things that I have kept remind me what life is, what it was like then, what it is now. All these items are like breadcrumbs that led me to moments, to people, to places, otherwise the moment vanishes-time gobbles it up. We say we will not forget, but we do. Time can rob your memory. Time can cause you to lose perspective. It can even harden you. This is why it is good to remember-always. It it like nourishment to the soul. It keeps me thankful. It keeps me soft to life especially if the days I am given today are hard and brittle like old bones. Remembering, collecting, viewing is a soothing, replenishing. When I look at the photos of me as a child I remember the sound of milk bottles clinking together as the milkman made his way to our porch in the early morning before the sun had a chance to awaken anyone. I remember the way fresh mowed grass was damp between my toes and left green stain on the bottom of my feet. I can hear my mother's voice. I can see my dad walk through the front door. These things happened miles and miles back in time and yet I can remember and in remembering know that life is good, that life is blessing.

Milkman Days

 My daughter made a video for me not long ago. She wove together our lives through pictures and film. When I sat and watched it I cried, huge walloping tears, tears of remembering. All the feelings erupted -feelings of a young mother overflowing with protection, love and fear for her children; a young wife learning her husband, loving her husband. It was all there to be remembered and gathered and kept in a place time could never steal.That video would be cherished, brought out and viewed again and again when I needed it. Everything I have kept is like this. They feed my soul, awaken my heart- the diaries, the poems, the essays, the artwork of my children, the pictures, the paintings my mother painted, the letters. I'm keeping it all. I am still collecting it, everyday there is a picture, a blog. Time cannot have it. It is mine. It is life-soft, hard, joyous, sad, crushing, uplifting, frightening, brave, disappointing, marvelous-crazy wonderful life! It is a gift from God. I believe that. I feel that. My breath is a grace. Thank you. Thank you. May I never forget.