It has taken turns in different rooms -- the living room, mom's bedroom, the family room, the foyer -- but always been apart of our furnishings. What's in it? That's simple -- our life.
Things like: my baby sister's Holly Hobby costume mom made, a picture of my brother graduating from college, my other sister's 1st grade drawing of her family, unused postcards from our time on Guam, ticket stubs from a Barry Manilow concert, birth announcements and baby books, grandparents funeral notices, a yellowed newspaper article when I was Homecoming Queen, dad's letters of commendation from the US Navy, mom's baby pictures -- momentos of our life together as a family.
As many of you know, I am passionate about memoir writing. When I came across d-artist's lens titled "My Life Story in a Suitcase, I immediately thought of that old, beat up cedar chest. It's full of memoir opportunities.
Delia tells of a suitcase that is home to memories and family heritage; a suitcase her mother always had close by. This suitcase travelled extensively and was lovingly added to by it's owner. When d-artist's mother passed away, she decided to keep the suitcase because of its' uniqueness and her mother's initials engraved on it, but what she was really keeping was her families' history.
She tells of being a child and how she was annoyed that her mother was always snapping pictures and added them to the suitcase. Today, she wishes there were more photos. Her suitcase is filled with passports, telegrams, oceanliner tickets, circus flyers, marriage certificates, letters and tons of photographs -- each one telling its' own story, following her family through time.
While it's not necessary to save every scrap of everything we do in our lives, Delia points out that these items represent "Who you are". She says, even if you are not interested today or tomorrow, one day you will be thankful to have them.
Delia is a very talented artist. She started painting a series representing memories from her past. Some are copies of photos from the suitcase others are pictures of memories from her mind's eye that she transfers to canvas. One day in the future, someone in her family will be so greatful that she took the time to write and paint about her life and memories. It's a legacy that should be passed down. The good and the bad, the happy and the sad -- together it equals the life we live.
Do you have a cedar chest, suitcase, file cabinet, or someplace full of momentos from your life?
Image Credit: Vintage Trunks by RebeccaBrittain
Wow, I love d-artist's work, but hadn't seen this one. I can see why you would be drawn to this lens. I think that the title, My Life Story in a Suitcase, would be a great title for a memoir. Wonderful review and lens!
ReplyDeleteA most interesting life led by d-artist and family, Mandee. Thank you for pointing us to it. :)
ReplyDeleted_artist has such a marvelous way to remember her family history from the fascinating photos and momentos tucked into her mom's 'memory' suitcase. A lovely review of a terrific lens.
ReplyDeleteThanks ladies! As Kim said, I was drawn to it! LOL Welcome Pat! Very excited to have you at SLR!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a remarkable story! Thanks, Mandee!
ReplyDeleteIt's beautifully done, with all those pictures. And, yes, those mementos do become precious over the years.
ReplyDeleteShe has some wonderful old photos, and I like the idea of keeping mementos in a trunk or suitcase.
ReplyDeleteI remember reading one of dartists articles before on her family. This was a great review showing that these are the things that matter, memories.
ReplyDeleteI happen to come across this by accident! I didn't know this was written...what a great article by Mandee. How lucky I am to have had my lens enhanced with this well written article. I wish I could write like this. Thank You Mandee for this lovely article...it is very much appreciated.
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