While cleaning out drawers and closets
I came upon my old cedar chest
I pulled it into the middle of the room
To begin cleaning it out like all the rest.

I opened it up and looked inside
And found all kinds of "stuff" and "things"
So I sat on the floor, and began pulling them all out
To sort the "keepers" and the rest to fling.

I found an old letter from my daughter
One she had written a long time ago
As I read her words and all that she said
After all these years it still touched me so
. . . and I put it back in the chest.

An old Bible I received when I was just twelve
The leather cover frayed and tattered
With an orange scribbled page by one of my babes
But now, I guess it never really mattered
. . . I put it back in the chest.

A Mother’s Day card from my son
With some words underlined in bright red
Without writing a word he told me so much
And I understood everything that he said
. . . so I put it back in the chest.

Some poems and prose I wrote long ago
Bringing back my state of mind then
With some I can relate, while others have changed
But they are all about me just the same
. . . these went back into the chest.

A beautiful card from daughter number two
Her words were few, but they said so much
They fed my spirit and caressed my soul
While my heart she managed to touch
. . . this goes back into the chest.

Letters and cards from long ago friends
Photos that brought them all so near
Theater programs and travel brochures
All things that I still hold dear
. . . I put them all back in the chest.

A teddy bear I made for my Mom
A bracelet from my very first love
A little silver tag belonging to "Dog"
Who's now living in doggy heaven above
. . . all this has to go back into the chest.

An old pocket watch belonging to Gramps
"Trident" gum from my Florida trip
A beautiful plaque made by my niece
And a little box holding three paper clips
. . . back into the chest they went.

I had spent the whole day searching the chest
Deciding what to keep and what to throw away
But as I looked in the chest, my "stuff" was all there
Oh well, I'll clean it out on another day!
~ StinaLisa ~
©Copyright 1999

I think we all have chests, or boxes of "things" and "stuff" that hold dear and sweet memories of the past.  While it is not always good to dwell on the past, it surely doesn't hurt to go back once in a while.

In touching, seeing, or reading those mementos and keepsakes, we remember and bring back to life those we have loved, those who are no longer with us, and events we experienced.  We can even use those mementos as tools to see where we are now in our lives compared to where we were back then.  Once we have spent the day bringing back "memories" . . . it's okay to put everything back in the chest for another day.

~ StinaLisa ~

"Life and Inspiration Index"

If you have the time, stop by my home on the web,
have a cup of coffee, and see the list of my other web pages.
Please sign my Guestbook before you leave so
I know you've stopped by.
Thanks!
~ StinaLisa ~

"Memory"
Floyd Cramer

The music playing is a condensed version of "Memory", and is for entertainment, educational and evaluation purposes only. Titles have full copyright by their respective artists and record companies. Please show your support for the artists who gave us this great music by purchasing their CDs.

If you are interested in purchasing a full version of "Memory" by Floyd Cramer, I have provided a link below to Amazon.com. They sell both new and used CDs. I have purchased many used CDs for my web pages and have never had a problem. Amazon also sells MP3 downloads in several categories with single songs ranging from 89 to 99 cents.

Thank you.

August 1999