Family heirlooms
linking us to our past...
“The most treasured of heirlooms are the sweet memories of family…”
A brown swede jacket.
Last weekend, my son brought it out to me from his room and asked me where it came from.
We don’t usually find ourselves thinking too much about what we discover in our closets. But two summers ago my siblings and I were faced with the task of emptying our mother’s apartment after her death.
The brown swede jacket came from that experience.
For some people, the task of estate “cleaning” involves an entire house or maybe multiple houses. For others, it may be only a room in nursing home. For us, it was a two-bedroom apartment filled with the many memories of my 93 year old mother.
At one time my mother had two homes in her retirement and earlier in her life, my parents had lived in several different homes, including two farms.
What remained in her apartment came from her own downsizing experiences and was what meant the most to her personally. The task of cleaning out and dispersing those possessions was immense - not just physically but emotionally.
I will be the first to admit that there are still several boxes in my home I need to go through this winter. But I need the right state of mind to do it so that it doesn’t become overwhelming. That is still a challenge for me, as it is for many…It is not easy when your loved one moves from a person to a memory…
But back to the jacket…When I found it in my mother’s closet, I recognized it right away. It had belonged to my father and he wore it often when I was a child. It brought back many memories and I remembered a few pictures where he was wearing it.
I thought that I would take it for my son, who never really had a chance to know my father, who died of dementia when Michael was only a little over two years old.
The jacket, from the late 1960’s, is now very “retro” looking and it fits my son’s personality perfectly.
I’ve thought over the years how much my father would have enjoyed watching Michael grow up. They have many similar interests including the love of great conversations (especially debating topics like history and current events), a compassion for the less fortunate in our society and, perhaps most importantly, a kind heart.
Speaking of my father…a few years ago Michael started doing something remarkable. He would come up behind me when I was sitting in my easy chair and gently squeeze the top of my head, just like my father did when I was a child.
What makes this remarkable was that I never told Michael about those gentle exchanges that my Dad and I shared. He just does it…
Like I said…remarkable…
So now Michael has the jacket. He snapped a selfie at college of him wearing it this week.
It seems like it has become the small treasure I was hoping for him…a part of his grandfather’s past that lives on whenever he wears it…
What do you think?
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Tranquil Moments…
I asked my niece, Jennifer Malphy, if she could share some of her nature photos with my newsletter audience. Each week I will feature a new photo and here’s this week’s:
This week’s Smile Video
Marvin Jones started writing letters to the students who had bullied him at his Virginia high school, where in the 1960s he was one of several students to desegregate it. In the process of writing the letters, he found an unexpected friend. Steve Hartman has his story in "On the Road."
#believe #smilevideos
What I am reading…
Lately I’ve been revisiting the picture books I used to read to my students over the years. Sharing a picture book with children was among my absolute favorite parts of my career as a school librarian.
Trudy Ludwig is an author whose messages about acceptance and kindness are timeless. Her book The Invisible Boy is a story that will capture your heart.
The Amazon description is as follows: “A simple act of kindness can transform an invisible boy into a friend...
Meet Brian, the invisible boy. Nobody in class ever seems to notice him or think to include him in their group, game, or birthday party . . . until, that is, a new kid comes to class.
When Justin, the new boy, arrives, Brian is the first to make him feel welcome. And when Brian and Justin team up to work on a class project together, Brian finds a way to shine.”
This is wonderful story that both adults and children should read. Do you have a favorite book you are reading? Please let me know in the comments!
Sharing Family Favorites…
In July I shared a tribute to my mother entitled Love Made Visible. This week I am sharing another one of the recipes from her cookbook.
My mother loved her mother-in-law and often told me that she was one of her best friends. She was also one of the people who taught my mother how to cook. Here is one of my grandmother’s favorite recipes.
Mind/Body Connections
Join Yoga with Adriene for a 13-minute guided meditation, suitable for beginners and experienced meditators alike! This rescue remedy practice can be done seated or lying down and serve as a balm on any day. Tune into the breath, honor your body, and lean into love. Carve out a little bit of time and space to just be where you are in this moment. You are worthy.
Children’s Corner
Back in 1999, when I was an elementary school librarian, I started a project where I wrote letters (old fashioned, printed letters) to a variety of famous people. This was prior to the daily use of email and text messages. My questions were simple…
1) From your own life experiences, how has reading affected your life in a positive manner?
2) Was there any particular person or experience in your life that made you aware of the value of literature and the importance of reading?
I am going to share these letters and let you experience the joy many of my students (and myself) have gotten from their touching words - Here is this week’s:
September is Library Card Sign-up Month!
A Library Card is ELEMENTAL!
Get in Your Element this September—sign up for a library card! From borrowing books, ebooks, and museum passes to getting homework help, learning new skills, or attending story time, a library card helps you do more of what you enjoy. Get a library card and dive into a new hobby. Use your library card to tinker in a maker space and spark your creativity. A library card is your most important school supply—it's elemental, really—and everyone should have one!
Celebrate and Spread the Word
Visit your library to see what's new and take part in the celebration. Libraries across the country are participating. Do you have friends who don't have a library card? Invite them to sign up during September. For more info visit: https://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/card
Music Moments
Music inspires me in many ways. Here’s a song from my youth that has been recently remade by a popular country artist. I love the original by Tracy Chapman.
Quote of the week
Until next week. Please remember…Begin and end each day with a grateful heart…and always, always be kind….