National Geographic magazine printed a story a few years ago that popped up again recently. A French man named Mantin died in 1905 and decreed in his will that his house was to be left untouched for 100 years. The article states that the 54-year-old childless bachelor was afraid of being forgotten. Wow, shades of Miss Havisham in Dickens’s 1861 novel, Great Expectations. I wonder of Mantin had read it.
All of us want to feel as if we’ve made a difference, we want to be remembered. There are a myriad of wonderful ways to do this besides enshrining yourself or your home for over 100 years. That is just sad and a bit creepily fascinating.
Years ago I read about someone who did an experiment like this with people on the streets of a large city. It was fascinating what people carried around and why. Folks used to say that a good woman could survive for a week on the contents of her purse. This idea usually brings a laugh, then a sheepish admission that this evaluation is not too far off the mark.
However, what would happen if someone took your purse, your backpack, or one drawer in your house, and tried to learn about you just from the contents?
What story would your accumulated objects tell about you?
I tried this experiment a few years ago on myself with my “treasure box” drawer. Here’s what I found, described as an observer:
The Keepsake Drawer—-a box of gaudy plastic beads strung on a thick cord, gifts from her children. Precious! The antique ring, elegant gold setting with just a piece of amethyst colored glass set in. Given to her husband by the eccentric elderly lady whose lawn he mowed as a boy. He had worked while she entertained the old man who was her gardener with iced tea and conversation. But– when he found the chunk of purple glass she had it set in an elaborate vintage gold ring and returned it to him as a keepsake. He had kept it for years then gave it to the girl he married.
Silk scarf woven in gold and ivory that once belonged to her grandmother, a Swarovski crystal necklace and earring set left over from that same grandmother’s dinner party days; cheap tourist scarves collected from around the world, from places other people went. A tiny swimsuit, an antique lace collar and three yards of handmade white lace, an enameled antique gold-rimmed plate, and a rustic looking pottery goblet and cup set that somehow made her think of the Holy Grail. Assorted Mother’s Day cards and a blood pressure cuff.
A silver plated art deco tea set she’d kept through one husband, four moves and three children. It was the first antique she’d ever bought at a garage sale when she was thirteen. Somehow, it symbolized the elegance and travel she dreamed of. Tarnished and pitted in a couple places but her dream nonetheless. She couldn’t part with it, even all these years later. Inspiring, maybe.
Look for symbols in the things around you. Why does she/he keep that? What is in your jewelry box, kitchen cabinets, closet, fishing tackle box, desk drawer?
Winston Churchill once said, “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.” No, you don’t need to be on the Who’s Who list to write your memoir. Each life is unique and there are stories in the amazing ordinary that can be drawn out to give insight not only to the writer but future readers as well.
Happy Mothers Day, enjoy your family time this weekend. I’m keeping this short and sweet as I’m celebrating too. Thankful for my own amazing and wonderful grown children —I’m delighted to call you “friends” –love you and my own great mom!
Yes, Mother’s Day has become commercialized, but I’ve rounded up some creative ideas to help you honor your mom in other ways. I thought the day was pretty much just a western invention, possibly funded by Hallmark. I was wrong, kiddos of all ages all over the planet want to make sure their moms know they’re loved. Plus, who doesn’t like to get together with family, eat good food, laugh a bit and just appreciate each other?
Check out these fun ideas, and take a minute to grab her fantastic, and free, printable Mother’s Day coupon book here:
Mother’s Day is coming up in a couple weeks and the advertising tycoons are hard at work trying to convince you that your mom or wife needs a new diamond, luxury car, phone or cruise to the Bahamas to make her life complete.
I am a born optimist and prefer to look for the good but it’s not all butterflies and kittens out there. Some of the saddest, most painful times in our lives are part of the extraordinary creation process of making us who we are. Heat, pressure, pain, grief, loneliness. Don’t ignore those “negative” events when you’re working on your life story, whether you’re well on your way to processing it or it still just doesn’t make sense. Your scars and damaged bits are part of the whole package.
Have you ever taken the road less traveled? Did something unexpected happen? Changing up your routine can help you see your life and choices in a different context. This can be especially helpful while you’re working on a memoir.