Teresa Crecelius
Porch Time with T
When we were born, we came into this world with no “baggage.”
We had no clothing or accessories. We didn’t have “stuff.”
We just had a new life and a beginning with no real game plan. We had no worries, still not knowing what this life. All we needed was milk, love and care.
Once at home, we met with family and friends celebrating us and bearing gifts for us, items that went into our “hope chests” of life once we no longer needed it or we outgrew it.
As time goes on, we accumulate more, from baby contest ribbons, and to more clothes and shoes, toys and new friends.
Those things may not mean much to someone else, but to us or to our parents, they are the greatest treasures as they carry memories of first times. In my son’s case I actually saved the nasal cannula they gave him when he had his tonsils out (strawberry smell still remains).
We all laugh that I saved it. It won’t mean much to others one day, but to us it was a good memory versus the surgery and the stress of your little one struggling.
I kept his three casts and slings as well. We didn’t have bubble wrap for him and things happened.
There are more memories.
Those little league wins, wrestling pins and football trophies.
There’s a homecoming dress we shopped for weeks for, and she wore for two hours.
It’s truly trash to anyone else but it sure is hard to burn something that still today brings back memories of her trying it on in the styling room.
This mama saw a tattoo that she didn’t think I’d ever notice. Proud moments, I am telling ya!), but today they make conversation. They make us smile when we take the time from our electronics and share the stories, making each other laugh until we cry. Those moments are the very best and they cost nothing.
Time goes on and weddings happen. The dress that may seem ugly today. Maybe it was the one that grama made or one that was passed down by their mother with a memory that only they hold. It’s ok.
Accumulating “things,” the gifts at the wedding and showers that you keep. No one wants to hurt anyone’s feelings. If Aunt Ethel gave it to you, you must keep it as she may visit!
All these “things” have a way of hanging around- gathering at your home.
As we age, we discover that the three-story home had the items we received when our parents passed, or things friends left behind that we couldn’t throw.
We box them all up. Totes galore!
They are out of sight and out of mind until the day we have the time to go through them again.
By then our children are grown. They have their own homes of their things.
When moving into a smaller space, you may need to downsize.
We need to be minimalist. Sounds easy right?
That’s until my hubby brings out a cute cup and saucer that his parents had for their anniversary, the letters his dad sent his mom when fighting over seas, the Afghans that to me are nothing, or that we’ll ever use, but maybe he remembers being snuggled under one of those with grama watching the black and white TV back in the day.
One day, my grandson, age 6, saw that my husband had a large stuffed Mickey Mouse in a tote and he couldn’t figure out why “Papa Mike” had a Mickey.
I told Mike to sit him down and tell him the story, a story that today brings tears for both of us. My late granddaughter Abbi was teasing Mike, whose proper name is Mikie and called him Mickey Mouse. She got him that toy. It now travels with us on all the vacations that we intended to take her on one day. That Mickey Mouse won’t ever be burned or thrown in the trash. I get that.
Through the years, we lose things or misplace them. They’re lost in divorces or in moves or in numerous other ways. But, if it’s still in a tote today after 60-70 years of our lives, chances are it’s a memory that can’t quite be destroyed.
Don’t forget to reflect on all the “stuff,” the “junk,” and the “treasures” that you’ve saved. Talk about them. Tell the story (if they’ll listen long enough) and share.
Blessings
T
