Thursday, October 19, 2006

Love Thursday #7

I can't believe another week has flown by in a blink!

I'm doing something a little different for Love Thursday this week. This post has been on my heart for a while now. I think it applies.

Treasures




I haven’t had much time to blog and visit my favorite blogs the past few weeks because I have been spending my days wrapping and boxing up the things that my Aunt Ga. left behind.

As I’ve wrapped each item to be sold or given away, I’ve wondered.

Why?!

Why did she keep these things. Why did she save them and and pack up and bring them with her when she moved twice? What was so special? Some of the things are exotic. Some look expensive. Some are strange. Some are unbelievably beautiful. Some are very very old. And some of these things are downright weird! I know for certain, each thing has a unique story. And I wonder.

Why?!

Why didn’t I start a year ago, taking each item to my aunt and asking her to retell it’s tale. Why didn’t I ask her why these things were so special to her? Did this come from a foriegn land? Was that a gift from someone dear? Why are these so valuable to you that you packed them and moved them here to have them with you to keep you company during the sunset of your life?

But I didn’t do that and now the memory of these precious things is lost. And I’m filled with regret. How sad that I’d didn’t take the time to know her better, to understand why these things were a treasure to her and thereby make them in some part a treasure to me. But my chance is gone.

However, perhaps your chance is not gone. Perhaps you still have time.

So I’m urging you. If you have a granny or a papaw, a mom or a daddy, an auntie or a tio, don’t let another visit go by without asking about those precious things. Collect the stories and tales, you might be pleasantly surprised at what you find out. I think you’ll discover that people of “mature” stature, have so much to offer and such a deep desire to impart it to someone. Who better than someone they love, someone who loves them? I know that you'll find that these things left behind will mean so much more to you when you have their story too.

If you don’t have a person like that in your life, no doubt you can find one. A neighbor or family friend. Pay a visit to your local assisted-living community, which I can guarantee you is full of folks without anyone with whom to share their lives, their treasures, their stories, their love.

And please, share this message with your friends, your family, your co-workers, your blogging buddies. Time's a wastin'. The days are fleeting. Grab those memories before they're gone. Share the love.



Be sure to visit Chookooloonks for more of Love Thursday.

16 comments:

deedee said...

Thanks for the reminder and Happy Love Thursday.

Karen Bodkin said...

What a beautiful reminder...I like how you wrote "the sunset of her life." That was beautiful. Happy Love Thursday!
Karen
xo

Jerri Ann said...

That was a touching story. Sadly enough, I think we all do this and then hindsight sets in with the "wish I had".....

Mama Duck said...

Wow, great reminder and great take on Love Thursday!

Susanne said...

Ann, this was a great post!

It never occured to me to ask about things in a loved ones home and what they mean to them. What a wonderful way to hear great stories and memories!

Jen said...

I too have lost people and the memories they had and I'm left with boxes of interesting photos with no notion of who the people are. Important to put the lesson into practice. I'm sorry for your loss, but Happy Love Thursday!

Anonymous said...

very touching. sorry for your loss.

Anonymous said...

Simply a lovely post. Thank you.

Happy Love Thursday.

Abeni said...

So true.We take things for granted not realising people are in our lives for a short time

Miss Notesy said...

I've thought about this with my mom's old xmas orniments.

By the way, I just tagged you. :-) Go check out my blog for the details.

Miss Notesy said...

I think I mean "ornaments"... but I can't spell for crap.

Anonymous said...

good words from a wise lady.

DeAnna said...

What a wonderful reminder to ask others about things as well as write things down about our own memories to pass along. Thanks for sharing this!

celestial opus said...

Great message! But what is that, a paperweight fish, or perhaps bigger for a shelf? Oh the stories it could tell!

Michelle said...

what a beautifully written post and a great reminder to talk to our family members!

Anonymous said...

What a good thought, thank you.