“Take care of all your memories. For you cannot relive them.” - Bob Dylan

Several years ago, Mama asked if there was anything of hers I wanted. It came out of the blue; she'd asked me to help her sort through some stuff because she wasn't able to bend and go through things like she used to. I guess going through old button boxes makes a person go in two directions - one back down memory lane and the other, toward the future when life is over.

I told her I didn't even want to think about that, but she insisted. She said she wanted me to have her jewelry. She loved having a daughter and I loved being that daughter. It brought her great joy to see me all dressed up and she was always trying to get me to let her shop for me. I always refused, but her wanting me to have her jewelry all fits in with that.

I finally told her there was a picture I wanted. She went and opened the frame and wrote on the back of it. Just now, as I scanned it to put with this post, seeing her handwriting makes my heart break all over again. I yearn for the day when it will be warm memories and not heartbreak.