I find inanimate objects can hold a whole story and an entire set of memories.
When I was at school, I had a soft pink shirt that my friend Nancy and I called “the kissing shirt” because anyone who wore it would be so irrisistable that she would be kissed. That shirt got borrowed by so many girls for its magic powers. If I had that shirt today, it would tell many stories.
Today, I have two objects that hold many stories
One is the 48 sidewalk squares between Sam’s house and my house.
On those squares in the last 4 years the six of us have run back and forth- in flip flops, and boots, carrying dresses to try on and essays to proofread, holding casseroles and pots of veggies, flowers and Christmas presents, carrying joy to share and burden to divide. Stories of dates, and marks and sadness and laughter.
I love those sidewalk squares.
The other story telling object is my island- not in the ocean (drats)- right here in my kitchen.
On that island so many wonderful people have pulled up to share a story. A man in a tuxedo, a child in a bathing suit, a girl from Uganda, a boy from Nicaragua, my postman Lloyd, friends in yoga gear, halloween costumes, with homework and diaries, a joke to tell, a story to share, a secret to trust. They pull up here to have a drink of wine, a hot chocolate, an after school snack, a kleenex for tears, candies and fruit, veggies and dip, cheese and crackers. Often they might laugh so hard they fall off the chair.
One day when I was cleaning I saw that there are huge denim stains on the wall where all the knees go. I love that. I did not wipe them off.
These objects tell stories, hold memories and are alive to me.
We should all have denim stains. Lovely post Nancy.
I love that you left the jean marks…I think Will almost added some marker marks..
Lovely, Village… xox