This weekend I flew home to Arizona to spend some time with my family. We celebrated new transitions and birthdays and we unwrapped presents under a makeshift holiday ficus tree.
Oh, and my mom finally made me clean out my childhood closet. You wouldn’t believe the things I found: so many old pictures, and boxes of hand written letters, playbills, and vacation mementos, and well hidden bottles of booze (we had a good laugh about that one).
Oh, and my mom finally made me clean out my childhood closet. You wouldn’t believe the things I found: so many old pictures, and boxes of hand written letters, playbills, and vacation mementos, and well hidden bottles of booze (we had a good laugh about that one).
It was strange going through all those memories- emotional, and funny, and exhausting all wrapped up in one small closet. It got me thinking, though, about how easily things are lost. Of how memories and feelings sometimes falter in the space from one decade to the next.
And you know what else? It sort of reminded me that life is more or less just a collection of moments. Moments that lead to a collection of events that lead to the stories that make up our lives. Its sort of a simple thought but I found it comforting.
And I’m glad that I have this blog to record some of those memories because I don’t think I’ll ever have enough closet space to store them all.
What a great post... I like the sentiment very much that life is a collection of moments that make up our lives. I still have 1 large photo boxed stashed in my current closet with random things that I cherish for the memory it brings. I have a drink stirring stick that says dance like no one is watching on it lol from when I was 21 at a show I went to with friends, who knows how it survived this long in my life. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks S.V.! I had about 80 boxes like that. I swear, I don't think I threw a thing away between the ages of 6 and 24. It's amazing how that stuff just piles up and how hard it is to throw away.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could find something like that, but my mom gave me all my stuff years ago. Of course, now Dudette's going through my boxes in the basement and coming up with my old stuff (like a Garfield stuffed animal from when the comic strip first came out). Memories are amazing.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful, Sarah. And you are right, so many moments, and so many of which just get lost in time. We are getting ready to move and have been going through closets and boxes from both our parents homes...lots of memories that have been brought back to life!
ReplyDeleteHow nice to go through those memories with your mom... though I'm a little disappointed that you had some of your booze stash left. LOL!
ReplyDeleteOld pictures and handwritten letters are to be treasured forever! I have boxes and boxes of old letters to various pen pals. And I love finding old playbills. When I was young we used to attend plays at a local college theater, and when I discover the old playbills I always wonder where the actors are now. Ah, memories. It's never easy to get rid of the tangible evidence.
ReplyDeleteWhat a thought-provoking post! I love the idea of our lives being a collection of memories. That's what truly makes us who we are.
ReplyDeleteYou really are a wonderful writer...I've been going through boxes at my parents' house when I'm visting them and am also coming up with some interesting things.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post...
ReplyDeleteHaving been gone from the "blogging world" for some time, I've missed out on what everyone is doing. On your amazing peppermint bark and trip skiing. (How fun by the way!) But, the best part of blogging is I got to catch up. And here's what I would have told you had I been there all along:
ReplyDeleteI love your calorie break after Thanksgiving. I have a bulb of fennel which might need to become a salad. As in, I have it currently.
I’m impressed and inspired (though most likely not inspired enough to copy you next year ;-/ ) by your homemade Christmas gifts.
What a fantastic thing to go through, appreciate, and purge your childhood memories. I’m glad the lost was found!
That is so beautiful! I have some of my childhood stuff still at home and whenever I go there it feels so nice to see those things and go back to childhood once again :)
ReplyDeleteHi The Mom Chef! I had to get rid of most of the stuff- not much space in our teeny apartment to store it- but I saved a box of stuff to keep on hand : )
ReplyDeleteThanks Cassie! Good luck with your move! It's crazy what you can find...
Hi Laura! I'm a little surprised about the booze too- there was an entire unopened bottle!
Hi Jeanne! I can't believe I wrote so many letters when I was a kid- they were lovely to find.
Thanks Beth! Thanks Cucina49! Thanks Chinmayie! Thanks Kankana! Y'alls comments totally made my day!
And Mikaela- thank you so much for your list of lovely comments- glad you are back from your blogging break- I missed you!!
Sarah...what a lovely post. I bet that was such a wonderful trip down memory lane. It's funny how we capture, store, save memories. I have jars in my laundry room of every little thing I've removed from the pockets of my son's pants since they were in kindergarten! I'm running out of room! But you know...those memories will always be stored in my heart. As I suspect is the case for yours! Beautiful photos, as always!
ReplyDeleteI still have some of my childhood stuff. It'll be nice to go through it. I like what you said about your blog being somewhere to store memories.
ReplyDeleteI love running across childhood photos etc. Yes it is doubtful we will ever have closets large enough for all of our memories. Sweet post :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Sarah. I think most people have that moment in their lives when Mum finally collars them and makes them complete that closet-clearing task. Sounds like you had a lovely visit and the photos are spectacular!
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