Memories

Memories, our days are full of them, the smells can take us so far back and put a smile on our face.

This week our son came up to visit us, we put the IPod in and Hawaiian music began to play, the sun was out and the day was very warm, I put together some snacks and sat outside with my husband and enjoyed the music.  For a while the memories of spending time at my grandmothers house came back to me.  She and my grandfather lived in Oakland, her sister my Auntie Glory and my Uncle Benny lived right behind them.  They were very close as sisters can be and my uncle had put in a gate where both backyards met.

 Weekends were so much fun when we visited, bbq's music and lots of laughter.  Sneaking over to my aunt and uncles house was my get away time.  Their house was small and as I had found out many years later, he had painted the outside of the house pink because it was her favorite color, he loved her very much.  The inside of the house was full of their memoires, Hawaiian albums from the many trips they made, which are now mine.  Uncle retired from the Navy and I enjoyed walking around the house looking at the pictures of the ships he was on.  He was the head cook and made special meals for the Admairl, there was a letter framed with thanks from him.  Auntie would always make uncle cook something for me and he was happy to do so.  He was born in the Phillipine Islands so cooking was he favorite thing to do.  I can remember the small stove witht three burners, how he made all those meals I will never know.
When I was 16 I over heard some of my aunts talking about when they first got married and had a Hope Chest.  Not really understanding or ever saw one, I thought I should have one after all your suppose to save liens and such for when you get married.  One day my Aunt Glory came to visit my parents, I loved it when they came to visit, my aunt would always make sure I had $5.00 to get something for myself.  One day during her visit, I told her I wanted to show her my Hope Chest which really was a large shoe box, but I had collected some lace end table cloths and I was proud to show her. She never let me know that it was not really a Hope Chest but she smiled and said she would add to it the next time she came to visit.  Years later after I had married and had my children, she told me that after she passes on, that she wanted me to have her Hope Chest.  The day came two years later after she passed that my uncle ask me if I still wanted the Hope Chest.  My husband and I came to pick it up my uncle said he had left some things in but had taken the letters he had written to her while he was in the Navy, just like the house he painted pink for her, the letters were written for the same reason...... because he loved her.

Memories are a part of who we are and mine are in a special place in my heart.

Remember to count your Blessings...........