Not all collections are tangible. This was never more evident to me than over this last weekend as I spent some time with my Dad and Grandma (Ma). Daddy and Ma live in a residential care home in Tennessee, a few hours’ drive away from me. So, this was my opportunity to spend some time with them, to celebrate Christmas and open gifts. Daddy, who is 72, suffers from Dementia and Ma, 88, deals with the effects that age tends to take on a person…her memory is failing her. It is hard to determine how much of my dad’s memories are still with him, but my sister and I are blessed that he still recognizes us and always appears to be glad to see us when we visit.
At this visit, Ma needed a little help in remembering me when we arrived, but with a little reminder, seemed to know who “Cheryl” was. It makes me wonder if she remembers all the times that we spent at her house for holiday family dinners, hunting Easter eggs, and Summer BBQs. I wonder if she remembers the weeks in the summer that I would spend at her house when she would take me shopping and out to eat Pizza. I remember lying in her bed with her at night, the windows open and the cool breeze blowing in on us as we listened to the sound of the mocking bird that lived in her tree just outside her window. I remember the conversations we would have in the dark about that interesting bird and what we might do the next day, but does she remember any of that? Is there any glimmer of those memories still with her?
That leads me to today’s post…my collection of memories. What will happen to them when I am older? There are so many memories of my childhood and early adulthood that are already gone, I am sure. But what will become of the fun times, my son’s birthday parties, family get-togethers, important life decisions, anniversaries, new homes, times when I nurse my family during sickness, vacations and fun with friends? So…even though I have been somewhat active in collecting these memories, I want to spend more time on really documenting LIFE. This new year, I resolve to video more everyday moments with my family and spend more time scrapbooking those memories that I know one day will be even more precious to me. I’ve got a pretty good start, but in 2011, I will make more of an effort to preserve those memories that one day may fail me. Even if I don’t need the reminders, someone else may need to see my memories when they can’t remember their own.
Daddy & Ma - Christmas 2010
…Stay tuned…my next post will focus on my scrapbook related collections.
