Sunday, August 23, 2009

Box of Memories

My grandparents, Mary and Ambrose Clifford, on the left.

This weekend, family from Boston came for a visit. First off, sorry we couldn't spend more time together! It was great to see all of you: Mary Alice, Margie, Susan and Cutie Patoot, Jillian.

Margie brought with her, what I call a box of memories. It is a box full of pictures, cards, announcements, and keepsakes from the life of my grandmother, Mary Clifford (who died at the age of 99..talk about a long life!). I volunteered to scan these documents in order to preserve them for all to see, and send them back to their rightful place: with Margie. Late this evening, Aimee and I took a quick look. After only a few minutes, I realized the magnitude of what I saw. These are not just photos or history. These items are what she kept close....what were dear to her: a graduation announcement,poems, letters, and random notes from a trip, to name a few. Here, the 'every day' becomes precious.

The only thing I could say to Aimee was the following: "This box is the most valuable thing in this house right now." Well, in addition to our own keepsakes. It is tough even to compare though, as the value of material things seems so weak in comparison. Not only did this box shed light one woman's wonderful life, I could only think about how special these items would be to many, many people. So I will scan them. I will document them. I will handle them with extreme care. Then I will return them.

I wish she could have seen our Stella. I could just imagine my grandmother picking Stella up and saying something like "ooooohh..such a good girl!"....the tone of voice of what I heard, when I was little. I still catch myself thinking about that tone of voice when I pick Stella up into my arms..the sound I make reminds me of Mary. I was also reminded today (forgot) that her middle name was "Estelle" that she actually changed herself, but choice, because that's how she wanted it to be.

Maybe there is a connection somewhere. I do know this: when Aimee and I were still dating, we went up to Boston for a visit. Mary (my grandmother) had diminished greatly, physically and mentally and did not have much more time. Aimee did not see her as the robust, larger than life woman that most knew. She must have known something though, because in her haze, as we were getting into the car, she grabbed my arm and said: "Matthew! Are you going to get her a ring?" Since Aimee was right there, I pretended not to notice. No problem for Mary though, because she said it again, louder: "Are you going to get her a ring????" She then offered one of her own, If I recall correctly. If I could rewind back to that moment, I would not have been embarrassed. I would have responded...."Of course!" Before she died, she did know, that we would marry.

So, more to come on the box of memories.


1 comment:

Alexandra said...

Awesome.