memory vault

I went to my parents house this weekend in attempt to take my mother home from the hospital and be her 'beck and call' person. However, the nurse at the hospital took care of that as she was not discharged over the weekend as we had thought due to various complications. Which left this weekend as a great time for napping at the hospital, dates with dad, praying with mom and reading her scripture, re-living my 'speedbump' of a hometown, and going through memorabilia from birth to college.

My strict instructions for the 'next time you are home' were 'CLEAN OUT YOUR STUFF IN THE ATTIC!!!!' So I brought down my 6 or so boxes of things from my childhood. I'm really not sure how things got categorized as 'save' or 'throw' back in the day as I found things from pictures (yes, great! save!) to a Michigan hat (really?! why was this important?) So I got my best throw-away attitude on and did quite well supporting Goodwill and the garbage dump until I got to 'the box'. The box that when I opened I felt like I entered a movie. It was like I stepped into a time vault to my high school. It had medals and trophies, my crown from when I was Maynard's 4th of July Queen, high school yearbooks, prom 'champaigne glasses', my cap and gown. I almost choked up! Ok... not that much but I did so much enjoy going through those things.

So after many diaries read; 4th, 5th, and 'consolation' ribbons tossed; art projects donated to my nieces; my boxes of memorabilia and 'stuff' went from 6 to 1... a little sad but good. I realized through all of this that (1) what a wonderful childhood and home God provided through my parents, how loving and supportive they were (2) in the grand scheme of things, this will all burn (Matthew 3), simplicity is so fabulous.

On side note: Often when I return to my hometown (which is not often) I feel as if I walked into the set of Sweet Home Alabama except in Minnesota - from the street dance with the semi to the small down diner. In Montevideo (the big town nearby) I witnessed a great moment in history; a once in a life time sight. 'Rumor has it' is it was a teenage boy, not paying attention at the wheel (see photo below).














That just about made my weekend if not for Budgers Dinner House which is open just 4 days a week. 4 evenings and 1 brunch and about the best steaks and burgers in the whole midwest as you could not find a better steak for that price! And hot off the cow!! Even better :)

Lesson learned? write down why the various rocks, knick-knacks, and pencils were important to you as a child... otherwise they are getting tossed as an adult...

For those wondering, Mum's doing better. Still in the hospital, but feeling stronger after a long week and a half of feeling pretty crappy. Hopefully discharged closer to this next weekend. Yay! Way to be a fighter, Ma!