Keeping memories

There are all types of people when it comes to being sentimental. Some people hang on to everything, ticket stubs, old t-shirts and artwork from elementary school. Some people toss and hang on to nothing. Memories are the best, no one can take those away from you. I'd like to think I'm a happy medium when it comes to memories. I tried to keep a folder of papers and artwork for each of my kids throughout their school years, each grade, so they could someday look back on the stuff and it would bring them happiness, good memories, and some laughs!

This summer is the summer of cleaning out and as I put it "purging"! It is time to clean out, clean up and get rid of. All my kids have their own homes and I am giving them their memories. The books, clothes, toys, photos, artwork, jersey's, dresses and such. I get the feeling that most of the items I'm delivering will probably be going to the garbage or goodwill...this is totally their choice. I get that. But as someone who has very, very little from her youth I hope they someday aren't saying "I wish I had" or "I wish I'd kept"some items from their youth. You see it is good to look back, read old journals, look at elementary artwork or report cards put on your high school jersey or prom dress. This is all of what makes us who we are, us!

I wish I had items from my youth, the kindergarten family picture I drew of my entire family in swimsuits, or journals I wrote or books I'd read over and over again and were the favorites that I would have passed along to my kids when they were younger to read. Such happy and precious memories that I wish I could have shared with my kids. But that stuff is gone and are just my memories now.

No one can take your memories away from you. But having remembrances and keepsakes of days gone by and people who are no longer here are a special treasure. Sharing things from our youth and school year with your own children is a cool thing as well.

But once I give their stuff to them, it is theirs to do as they want...keep, toss or donate. I just have one hope, that they take the time, sit down, look at and go through the boxes of memories one more time and it brings them a smile or two one last time before they do whatever they do with the items. It's what makes you individual and unique.

I know it is all just stuff, just remember what you think is clutter and junk now someone someday might say, this was my dad's jersey or this was my mom's prom dress or a card from my great grandparents given to my dad or mom when they were my age. It's all in perspective, memories are precious. After all, I have my mom's wedding dress from 73 years ago. I have no idea what to do with it. But I know it brings me happiness when I open the box and look at it and remember photos from my parent's wedding and how beautiful my mom looked. Or the handmade rocking chairs my dad made for each of my kids, what a wonderful keepsake for them, something I've never had from my grandparents. Take the time and do more than live in the moment, keep those memories close.