Top Drawer
Everyone has a top drawer of a dresser, nightstand or desk where items collect. Some things are used a lot, a small pair of scissors to clip off the new tags on clothing or a pack of sticky notes for example. Add an emery board emblazoned with a political candidate’s name and slogan- “Let Mike make a Difference!”or a black velvet jewelry pouch for travel. Handy and practical. But also in that top drawer one may store some things that are just too good to toss, but don’t have much usefulness anymore. In my top drawer I recently found a once significant tac pin from a past sales meeting, a random “Elmo” key fob, a macaroni necklace & a matchbook from a now extinct favorite restaurant. Much less practical but nostalgically significant and not disposable quite yet.
Decades later I was about to embark on opening that top dresser drawer at my Mom’s home. She had left this house five years ago and would most likely never return again for she resided in an Alzheimer’s assisted living facility. This day I was on a hunt for the practical, some costume jewelry to take to my Mother. At homes like these things get misplaced and “rearranged” so it had to be something I was willing to never see again…(or see in a month or two bedecking some other dear resident as they walked within four safe walls.)
Cautiously, stealthily, I sat on Mom’s bed and paused in front of the limed-oak dresser. Purchased by my newlywed parents in the early 50’s, it would be considered “retro” or “vintage” to the trained eye and “way out of date” by anyone else. It matched a chest of drawers and a carved headboard. The knobs appealed to me. They were substantial and not ornate in the slightest. They were the size and shape of an old fashioned Shredded Wheat biscuit, say about 6”wide x 3”high. (That description is surely lost on the frosted mini-wheat generation of today.)
In her top dresser drawer, along with scads of costume jewelry and little change purses I found a yellowed & worn 3x5 card.
Say this Every Morning
I believe this is going to be a wonderful day. I believe I can successfully handle all problems that will arise today. I feel good physically, mentally, emotionally. It is wonderful to be alive. I am grateful for all that I have had, for all that I now have and for all that I shall have. Things aren’t going to fall apart. God is here and He is with me and He will see me through. I thank God for every good thing. Love, Jacqi / From the Power of Positive Thinking~ Rev. Norman Vincent Peale.
She would make herself notes as reminders and this one must have been a particular favorite judging by its tattered-ness and placement in her Top Drawer. Certainly you can guess where the worn 3x5 card will reside; in my dresser, the top drawer, of course. And for the next 3 years that will be a top drawer in China.
I love you, Mom, Always Have…..Always Will….......Carol
Thanks for reading,
Cricket
10 comments:
loved this thanks for sharing...
susan rinke
Beautiful tribute, Carol. Great was for me to (tearily) end this day.
I second Jim...it was a very special ceremony for a very special person.
Carol...I remember the drawer in our home...and like you I had the opportunity to go through it after my parents passed...It was an amazing journey because those were things that were special to them and nobody else. We spent weeks going though other boxes that were deemed off limits. I'm still reading the letters written during WWII...those memories will be with you forever.
Allan
Dearest Carol, I so loved this tribute that you wrote for your mother. You have a way with words, that makes the reader feel your emotions. Take care my friend Love, your neighbor,Sandy Bell
I've gone through a few top drawers in the past few years, and there are often surprises to be found there. Your mom left you some good advice. I was thinking that today when your brother was relating the story about her "positive thinking " messages, and thinking what a good idea it is to remind ourselves of the things we need to know in this life. so I learned a good lesson from your mom too, and I'll be making my own index card for my own top drawer :)
This was beautiful..xxoo
The best part is that your mothers legacy will live on in you and in your daughter and her daughters and she will be like you a wonderful mother...
You have spread your mother's legacy all the way to Sechelt, British Columbia. I too, will be writing my own index card to keep in my jewelry box. Your mother was wise to keep that reminder. Thank you.
Carol, I'm so sorry--I didn't know. I loved your mother--she was feisty, pretty, well-dressed, always smelled good, laughed a lot and was fun. When I was growing up, I thought all adults should be more like her. And although I know that she was troubled and had struggles, I don't remember her ever really talking about the dark in her life--only the light. And you were definitely one of her lights.
I will miss her too.
Sorry--the unknown is me. I apparently am not as computer savvy as I think. Hopefully this will post with my name.
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