Thirty-One Things - Memory

MEMORY

I never valued memory as I do now until I saw my mother’s elude her.  Life is a string of precious memories as jewels on a necklace.  There are too many to count or name, but each is a priceless gift.

I never want to forget and always remember // when my mother prayed with me after a bad dream // the comfort of Ed being next to me at night // the anticipation each year of the coming of autumn // my first sighting of a Blackburnian Warbler // Lydia having her first bite of ice cream // how the house smelled after Sunday morning church // Thompson’s ice cream // pulling clothes through Mamaw’s wringer washer // the smell of Zest soap // my dad praying on the chair in the bathroom // strawberry picking with my mom // playing with the Garros // dancing at band camp // Yelling BEARM in the middle of band // Ruff burying his bones in Dale’s bed // seeing Ed face to face for the first time // leaves burning in the Fall // the rustling of Bible pages in church // the night I prayed at Gilgal // when Arthur picked me // Lydia’s first steps // showing Noah the bird tornado // sleeping on the hard folding chairs at camp meeting // Sidda sitting across my shins // cake after church in the fellowship hall // listening to Howie Chizek on WNIR // my father’s voice // Caleb’s doe eyes // Acme-Zip games // slow-cooked roast beef // Mamaw’s rolls // making apple butter with my mother // playing the piano at Calvary Bible Church // the fall hiking spree with Suzanne // mom’s baloney sandwiches she made me for lunch time on school days // miniskirts and go-go boots // my first job at Ponderosa // Living Witness // the sound of crickets at night // star gazing at the meteor showers in summer // listening to Hazel Lee at MVNC // Lydia going with Betty to get crackers // Caleb’s beautiful bowl cuts // the sparrow that fell // wearing braided stocking on my head pretending I had long hair // football games with Josh and Missi // seven-up popsicles // riding my bike around the neighborhood // Green 1 // the smell after fireworks // relatives stopping in at Mamaw’s // Papa getting the big rocks out of the way driving up the road to Green Hill // being random with Dale // trying not to laugh during church // the zillions of stars in the pitch black sky in West Virginia // talking Mountaineer football with my dad // Lydia twirling in her lacey dress // Caleb’s cuddles when he was sick // Smores at the Green Cabin // snuggling with Noah and Elijah at bedtime // hearing the first signs of spring – birds // wonderful Words of life // and I’ve just started.