Jarring My Memory

A special memory to me is when you read The Magician and His Nephew out loud to us at the cottage.

Remember playing airplane? I wonder what would happen now if you tried to hold me up on your legs.

Remember the time when we hid Mom’s “Meeting Clothes” around the house and left hints for her to follow? She was so mad but I had such a good time with you.

I’ll never forget the way you held my hand last year when I found out that I had a growth on my cervix.

The selfless way you used to pick me up late at night and from Windsor probably wasn’t appreciated then — but it is now.

I still remember the absolute terror I felt after watching my first horror movie. I will also never forget how safe I felt when you slept with me all night.

Remember swimming in the Crow River when it was so cold we were probably at risk for hypothermia. That was so hard to get into and you just dived right in.

Remember playing for hours in the water at Long Lake. That was  a special place and time.

Remember when you locked your keys in the car while it was running when we were at church? That whole pew must have been shaking with us laughing. Who knew that a few years later I would do the same thing (although not at church).

All of those snippets came from what I’ll claim to be my best Christmas gift ever. A Memory Jar from Thesha in 2000.

The poor child was dirt poor in those days. She was trying to make her way in life, living on her own in a distant city working a low paying job. Being poor and unable to afford much, that Christmas she put time, effort and thought into making me the Memory Jar. It is worth far more to me than whatever a rich daughter could have given her Dad for Christmas.

I knew that I had a treasure, so I took my time in opening the various notes. I didn’t finish until Christmas 2004 as a matter of fact. I’d go to the jar when I was feeling particularly lonely for my girl or when I just wanted a little pick-me-up. And I was. Picked up. As you can see, I sometimes noted the dates. For example: I opened some on Fathers Day.

Thanks again, Thesha. This will be kept as long as I … uh … remember. Even if I forget some of the events that you remember so well.