

We visited his folks recently. The clutter used to bother me, but this time I was soothed by the peaceful rhythm of good times remembered. The nik-naks have been sitting on the table in the same place for as long as I can remember. There are things my children made in grade school. Treasured memories.
There’s an old stuffed tiger that has lost both eyes and the tail has been stitched back on a dozen times or more. The tiger is still on the twin bed thirty years later. I think every grandchild slept with that old stuffed tiger. There is a silly wooden turkey decoration with lots of holes drilled for colorful lollipops to be stuck in because a turkey must have colorful tail feathers. When my children were young, they were delighted to pick out their favorite flavored lollipop from that wooden turkey decoration. For years that wooden craft has been perched on the kitchen counter, in the same place…without the colorful tail feathers.
There is a lovely rhythm of maintaining each piece of cluttered memory. She–the one who loves the memories–dusts and cleans and puts everything back in the same place. This time when I visited the folks, I stopped and pondered the clutter and was pulled into the rhythm of memories.
Linking up with everyone for Five Minute Friday, where a remarkably encouraging and lively community gathers to write for five minutes. This week’s prompt is: Rhythm.
Pingback: Five Minute Friday: Rhythm | Pilgrim Wanderings
Pingback: 5 Minute Friday Rhythm | thehopejourneythroughChrist
I wonder if it is the things that make the memory, the place, etc. It’s cool that the visit to your in-laws brings on a pleasant nostalgia.
I often wonder what makes a memory stick or have impact. I actually wrote about it once.
I love your thoughts on rethinking of clutter as gathered memories. Great post!