I gave a lot of thought to what you wrote regarding objects of sentimental value. I find myself a rather boring person because I feel I’m not really attached to “things.” I’m not a collector in that sense nor do I have a real passion for anything in particular except my family. Mind you, I appreciate the world around me immensely and the wonderful “things” in it both naturally and man-made and truly enjoy them but on the other hand I’m not attached to them in a physical way where I can’t live or part from them. I just appreciate every day I am here and the sun that warms me. After the death of my parents I have a deeper appreciation of how fortunate and blessed I am to have my family and friends.
Before my mother passed away, she gave me a beautiful bracelet that my dad had given to her and a gold cross with tiny pearls that her father had given to her which she wore on her wedding day over 62 years ago. I was so touched to have them. Since her death, I wore the gold bracelet every day. However, one day I lost the gold bracelet and cried my eyes out. The following week, I lost the gold cross. I was even more upset! I knew my mom would have said it is only a material thing – it’s what you hold in your heart that counts. A few weeks later I found the gold cross in a slit in my pocketbook. The chain was missing but the cross somehow fell into my bag as it fell off my neck. I knew it was a sign from my mother. She has been with me in ways I can’t describe. My mother was a very devout person who had a deep strong faith, a gentle heart and a quiet guidance. She believed if you have faith miracles happen. If you have dreams, you pursue them. However, dreams may shatter or not live up to what you want but she also knew that life is but a dream – and God is forever. That being said, I’ve enclosed rosary beads. A day never went by when she didn’t pray the rosary. She believed in the power of prayer. I carry a set of rosary beads with me always. Beads of hope. When my father died at age 94, she placed her worn rosary beads in his coffin.
I’ve also enclosed two old photographs. I do cherish them. I often think if my home was destroyed and I lost everything as I have seen others lose theirs in floods, tsunamis, fires, mudslides, tornadoes, earthquakes, how would I really feel? Beyond devastated! My photographs besides my family would be the only thing I could never replace. A picture is worth a thousand words. I do hold dear all my photographs – they have the most sentimental value for they tell stories and remind us of lives come and gone. There is an old Africa saying, “Every time an old person dies, a library burns.”
-Nicky
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