pilfered treasure

my dad is out of town on business, which means my step-mom is reorganizing life. dad doesn't part with anything and he really dislikes change, so organization is not something that overwhelms his home, much to betsy's dismay. since i am inhabiting the basement for a while more (6 mos??) it affects me too. no storage space for me.

tonight i made an exceptional discovery. amidst the chaotic collage of a lifetime's worth of acquisitions there was a box. an old avon box, like the ones that were delivered to the house on mcgrew loop when we lived in aiea, hawaii. i remember the delivery of those boxes as a special treat. they came sealed in nothing more than plastic straps melted together to create a continuous loop, remember those? mom was an avon lady for a time, and a few of those boxes have survived the last three decades, somehow. the writing on the lid was legible enough to have been written yesterday, and the familiar curves forming "L.R.M. papers" were immediately distinguishable.

dad has things that are priceless to me, many of which i am completely unaware of. things being "saved" for that inevitable day when i'm all grown up enough to be entrusted with these precious heirlooms. i'm glad actually, it provides me with continual discoveries and deepening insight into the person my mother was. everyone's perspective on her identity is a little different, finding things written in her own hand is indescribable for me.

as i sifted through the box i announced "i'm taking this one" just to be reminded that i was digging through another person's property and that was an inappropriate declaration. ok, fine. i'll show the same respect that i would want shown to me. they are not my belongings, yet. you better believe that when he gets home i'm going to be sticking my nosy self in the middle of his procrastination and asking for him to go through it all. i'm an only child, i can be demanding like that - but i'll be sure to do it nicely. it's a delicate situation and i understand that. though many people will disagree with me, my father loved her immensely. these trinkets and memoirs of her life before insurmountable challenges and family meddling are emotional to more than just me. perhaps with the right nudge he'll be ready to part with them.

in the meantime, i scanned some of the things that were most endearing to me (a.k.a. most made my eyes water). this is the girl who became my mother; the girl i only partly knew but delight in learning everything about. this is the girl i want to be just like one day. her example of compassion and selflessness is unrivaled. i miss her.

what a fantastic sampling. who says scrapbooking is "modern" hobby?