Memories

[Guest]

How many of you surround yourself with your memories?

Today I sit, in a place I've never been before, and I put up things around me for memory sake.

I picture of my son.....donning the guitar that I personally took apart and stripped, and redid in the late 70's, when I was married to his dad.....above that is a piece of art I did about a story of love....with a dream catcher a lover gave me, and a bunch of feathers wound together with leather, and turquoise, another lover gave me.....

Above the speaker to my stereo attached to the wall, is a halloween pumpkin my dear beloved mother made.....and next to that is another piece of art I did.....this one St Nick, framed in maroons and greens (my framing, as I used to do that as a living)

A poem, about my son, framed next to that.....and underneath that...a pic of me when I must have been 3 or 4, behind my grandfather...(I used to call him "papa") riding on the back of his old mule, Toby.....which is in, I have to add (as a framer) an antique wooden frame.

There is much more.....but I don't want to bore you with more details of *my* life...lol...

But how many of you do this very same thing.....?

The Moon

 

[Caressa]

My apartment is filled with pics of people I know and love...as well as stuffed animals and toys that have all been gifts.

It makes me happy to have loving things around...no need to keep them in boxes or in the closet.

 

[april-wine]

I have things all around me, on the table, my favourite picture of my folks.....The 70's my dad has the widest tie on the planet on, my mom the grooviest gogo boots lol.....I love that picture

 

[truegentleman]

Not so much in pictures. Most of my memories are in my heart.
They have become a part of my soul, of who I am. I wish now that I did have more pictures. At least I can close my eyes and the images come back to me. They just get a little faded with time.

 

[Guest]

My apartment is filled with pics of people I know and love...as well as stuffed animals and toys that have all been gifts.

It makes me happy to have loving things around...no need to keep them in boxes or in the closet.

Ahhh, sounds sweet.....you are like me I can tell.

Moon

 

[unclej]

what a cool thread...as a matter of fact i like to live in the present but i do surround myself with memories...i have a couple of favorite pics of my father and grandfather, both gone for many years...an antique double barrelled shotgun that a special lady gave me years ago....a lamp that i made when married to another special lady...a native american flute given to me by a current special lady..a silly trophy that my baby brother and i trade back and forth each year...goes to whichever one of us gets the biggest buck each year....an empty bottle of aramis cologne given to me by my daughter about a hundred years ago...over in one of the corners are a mandolin, a banjo, a fiddle and a couple of guitars...one of them was the first new guitar i could afford, a 25 year old yamaha that just gets better with age...these things make me comfortable...

 

[MorgaineLaFay]

I use to keep everything...for the memories little gifts, silly things. But after a while I felt like my own space was being taken over by these things when I was alone in my house. Now I have photographs everywhere. Some I have taken of friends all in black & white, blown up matted & framed. Some are not of the happiest memories, but they remid me of certain places I was in my life at the time. I have a huge frame filled with pictures of my grandparents that have now passed. Inside that frame I have love letters written to my granmother from my grandfather, news paper clippings about my grandfather. I cherish these, they remind me of when times were simplier and life wasn't rushing by everyone so fast.

 

[Guest]

I have things all around me, on the table, my favourite picture of my folks.....The 70's my dad has the widest tie on the planet on, my mom the grooviest gogo boots lol.....I love that picture

hehe...I'd like to see the pic with the gogo boots..... "These boots are made for walking....and that's just what they'll do.....one a these days these boot are gonna walk all over you....."

My mom was too old for the gogo boots era......I was in grade school when they were popular.....

Moon

 

[Caressa]

Well, Moon...

I move twice a year because of my career choices so being reminded of happy times and loving people helps keep me calm (I almost said sane - but I haven't been that ever).

It's hard to leave friends behind and start all over (something I will be facing in a few months) but these more tangible memories remind me that just because I'm leaving them - doesn't mean they are gone. These people are a major source of strength to me....and they know it - I just need to remember it sometimes.

 

[Guest]

Not so much in pictures. Most of my memories are in my heart.
They have become a part of my soul, of who I am. I wish now that I did have more pictures. At least I can close my eyes and the images come back to me. They just get a little faded with time.

I understand.....I am blessed with having many pictures, but some of the best memories don't exist in pictures.

But the one I have framed on my *papa's* mule, Toby, is so special. My grandmother gave that to me when she died. I can look at it and actually remember the moment it was taken.....pictures are precious that way.

Moon

 

[riff]

I live in a world of memories, reflections, and anticipations. I feel like I don't exist when I am busy.

 

[Guest]

what a cool thread...

Thank you.....you gave me goose pimples reading your memories.....I'm glad I'm not alone.

Moon

 

[Guest]

I use to keep everything...

yea, me too....it was sad to give up some of the things....but necessary.

Moon

 

[MorgaineLaFay]

I have a bottle of Rain I collect years ago on a stormy night .. I do still have a few weird things lingering around I suppose.

 

[Guest]

I live in a world of memories, reflections, and anticipations. I feel like I don't exist when I am busy.

I get that way too...that's why I like to put my home computer surrounded with the memories I have. That way, I can remember.

Moon

 

[Guest]

Well, Moon...

I move twice a year because of my career choices so being reminded of happy times and loving people helps keep me calm (I almost said sane - but I haven't been that ever).

It's hard to leave friends behind and start all over (something I will be facing in a few months) but these more tangible memories remind me that just because I'm leaving them - doesn't mean they are gone. These people are a major source of strength to me....and they know it - I just need to remember it sometimes.

I've moved a lot in the past few years, and I certainly understand this.....I don't know if I'll ever settle down....

Moon

 

[Ice Cold]

Alll my favorite items I keep in a box... so they are close by when I need them or feel like reminiscing. In there are movie stubs from a first date, brochures from some even we went to... a special card that was sent and things like that.

I only keep four pictures out... three of my family that we had taken as a gift for my mother and one of my best friend with her children. Everytime I look at them I can't help but smile.

 

[dreamer]

I've always been rather particular about those I'd call friends. I end up finding myself really close to a few people instead of surrounded by many. I also have dealt with the reality that no matter how close people tend to move on, fade out of our lives, and sometimes just dissappear.

I like to think that my memories are best served by living in a way that has been shaped by those people I've known. So in a way those memories are constantly carried with me through my thoughts and actions.

Having said this I am also a sucker for a couple pictures, a letter or two from ex's long (and not so long) gone, and the casings from my dad's military salute. Don't we all need these things?

 

[lobito]

My Mom and I made made a memories scrap book for my Wife a few weeks ago, for her birthday. We put lots of color copied clip art pasted into it, and copied photographs, and old letters in the book for her.

Around my office here, I have many photographs of family, and even framed works that I created for my work. But I also have a Guatemalan flag on the wall, to remind me where my heart is when I can't be back home.

Lo

 

[Guest]

Alll my favorite items I keep in a box

I used to keep things in a box.....and I have a huge box of pics.....

But the things I put on the wall are different.....

It feels like love with them around.

Moon

 

[Guest]

Don't we all need these things?

I think we do.

Moon

 

[Guest]

I have a bottle of Rain I collect years ago on a stormy night .. I do still ahve a fwe weird things lingering around I suppose.

a bottle of rain? I'd love it if I'd done that....

Moon

 

[tswyk]

I travel alot - sometimes more than others - sometimes for a few days, other times for a few weeks. I always pack a few special photos to take with me.

Late at night when I come in, I'm usually tired and frustrated....seeing those photos are sometimes the only thing that can give me enough peace to sleep. My heart rate just starts dropping and I feel better.

 

[Guest]

I travel alot - sometimes more than others - sometimes for a few days, other times for a few weeks. I always pack a few special photos to take with me.

Late at night when I come in, I'm usually tired and frustrated....seeing those photos are sometimes the only thing that can give me enough peace to sleep. My heart rate just starts dropping and I feel better.

ahh, that's juss what I'm a talking about.

Moon

 

[IrishWolfhound]

My memories aren't in things. They are in my heart and mind. Of people I have known and loved, and especially those I have lost. The grandmother I lost when I was 6. The cousin, a cop dead of AIDS contracted when he was jabbed by a junkie's needle. Aunts and uncles and a few friends, too.

And friends I have lost, from innatention, or stupid pride in refusing to call them when they failed to call me.

And beloved animals, who gave their love unconditionally to me.

And memories of places. Very special places I shared with the woman I once loved, but have lost. Long foggy beaches, and quiet woods. Run down apartments when we were too poor to afford better, and kept warm in each others arms through cold winter nights.

And memories of joys and sorrows shared.