This ranks as one of my all-time fav stories of yours!! I love the Mothership note!!! Thanks for sharing, and I did not know that about when Paul was killed....I knew you were there, but didn't think about the impact on you and probably 1/2 dozen other kids we knew in common. You must have been so frightened, and I know your Mom probably felt dreadful herself for not being there when you needed her most. Wish I had a Mothership note! Wish my Mom had written me notes like that....
My family will describe the delicate balance between too many notes and just enough. I've crossed the line more times than I care to count. And then, there's the whole topic of saving things, where to put them, and justifying them as keepsakes in the first place. So, as with everything, there is a down side. But, yes, I do treasure these relics. Thanks for the comment, Carolyn.
The original motivation is heartbreaking but its heartwarming to see that good things can come from bad.
Do you think it's too late at 71 to begin something similar? The thing is there's only the Terrier, husband and self who live in the house. The hatchlings have well and truly fledged...
Never too late, Prue! (That's one of those 'you already know the answer' questions, isn't it?) Even if you wanted to focus on a finite period of time, or come at it differently somehow, I think you'd find pleasure in the process.
Great storytelling! I so wanted the laminated note to be there behind that bottom drawer! And who wouldn't want a mom like you and yours? I've kept so many of the kids' and grandkids' notes and papers, some of them so old the edges are raggedy, but when I offered to give them back they all, to a person, insisted I keep them so they can look at them whenever they're here and have a notion to go through them. So here they stay!
We can't imagine, when we start those traditions, how much they'll mean in later years. Or even which ones will have the most impact. Thanks for this. It was so heartbreaking, so lovely.
I've read of others' traditions (keeping the cut-off part of the trunk of the Christmas tree, and emblazoning the year on it with a wood burner, for instance) that I wish I'd known about sooner. But, I'm glad for the few we have maintained. Appreciate the comment, Ramona.
Oh Elizabeth... Your memories and musings regarding The Mothership, things tucked into a drawer.. put such a smile in my heart this morning. What a gift. Thank you, my friend. ✌️♥️
Thank you for your words and for how much love and care you leave randomly strewn about and tucked away in the world, so much that it sometimes falls into hidden-away places.
Much gratitude, Pam. I'm sure I scatter quite the crumb trail - some of it not so welcome as the love and care might be. Hopefully, it all balances out. Hugs!
Thanks, Mary. It's hard not to trust intuition when it shows up loud and clear like it did this time. My stumbling block is in listening for it when it's not shouting. :)
This is such a wonderful story so beautifully told. Amazing. Such a sad story behind the appearance of the notes, but what an amazing connection between your family members to The Mothership.
Amazing, yes. My husband and I feel fortunate that our daughters have chosen to remain deeply connected to us even after the "flew the coop." Thanks for reading and commenting, Rebecca.
Thanks so much, S.K.! I'm grateful for your presence here no matter what, and I'm pleased to know you found inspiration in this humble story. Cross post anytime. :)
This ranks as one of my all-time fav stories of yours!! I love the Mothership note!!! Thanks for sharing, and I did not know that about when Paul was killed....I knew you were there, but didn't think about the impact on you and probably 1/2 dozen other kids we knew in common. You must have been so frightened, and I know your Mom probably felt dreadful herself for not being there when you needed her most. Wish I had a Mothership note! Wish my Mom had written me notes like that....
My family will describe the delicate balance between too many notes and just enough. I've crossed the line more times than I care to count. And then, there's the whole topic of saving things, where to put them, and justifying them as keepsakes in the first place. So, as with everything, there is a down side. But, yes, I do treasure these relics. Thanks for the comment, Carolyn.
What a stupendous tradition!
The original motivation is heartbreaking but its heartwarming to see that good things can come from bad.
Do you think it's too late at 71 to begin something similar? The thing is there's only the Terrier, husband and self who live in the house. The hatchlings have well and truly fledged...
Never too late, Prue! (That's one of those 'you already know the answer' questions, isn't it?) Even if you wanted to focus on a finite period of time, or come at it differently somehow, I think you'd find pleasure in the process.
This deserves some thought.
Great storytelling! I so wanted the laminated note to be there behind that bottom drawer! And who wouldn't want a mom like you and yours? I've kept so many of the kids' and grandkids' notes and papers, some of them so old the edges are raggedy, but when I offered to give them back they all, to a person, insisted I keep them so they can look at them whenever they're here and have a notion to go through them. So here they stay!
We can't imagine, when we start those traditions, how much they'll mean in later years. Or even which ones will have the most impact. Thanks for this. It was so heartbreaking, so lovely.
Of course they must stay with you!
I've read of others' traditions (keeping the cut-off part of the trunk of the Christmas tree, and emblazoning the year on it with a wood burner, for instance) that I wish I'd known about sooner. But, I'm glad for the few we have maintained. Appreciate the comment, Ramona.
You never cease to bring me joy!💖
How sweet. Thank you, Barbara.
Persistence pays off, I love it.
I'm am nothing if not persistent. Grateful for the comment, Mary.
Oh Elizabeth... Your memories and musings regarding The Mothership, things tucked into a drawer.. put such a smile in my heart this morning. What a gift. Thank you, my friend. ✌️♥️
Smiling thinking of your heart smiling. :)
Also a fave! I love it. I am a note leaver too.
Well, of course you are! Thanks, Courtney.
Oh, this is gold.
Thank you for your words and for how much love and care you leave randomly strewn about and tucked away in the world, so much that it sometimes falls into hidden-away places.
Much gratitude, Pam. I'm sure I scatter quite the crumb trail - some of it not so welcome as the love and care might be. Hopefully, it all balances out. Hugs!
This made my day. Have recently ‘survived’
my own ‘does not create Joy’ purge and learning to ‘love the space’. Also have learned to trust intuition Entirely ❗️🌞🌻🌈
Thanks, Mary. It's hard not to trust intuition when it shows up loud and clear like it did this time. My stumbling block is in listening for it when it's not shouting. :)
This is such a wonderful story so beautifully told. Amazing. Such a sad story behind the appearance of the notes, but what an amazing connection between your family members to The Mothership.
Amazing, yes. My husband and I feel fortunate that our daughters have chosen to remain deeply connected to us even after the "flew the coop." Thanks for reading and commenting, Rebecca.
I really want to cross post this! All I can do, at the moment, is a free subscription. I will upgrade as soon as I can. How inspirational!
Thanks so much, S.K.! I'm grateful for your presence here no matter what, and I'm pleased to know you found inspiration in this humble story. Cross post anytime. :)