The Keepsake That Tells Her Story
One object carries a chapter of her life she never wants to forget.
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A time in my life when one chapter ended and a new season began filled with personal growth, professional success, and endless possibilities, with my family by my side.
I have a music box that plays Singing in the Rain. It is one of a few keepsakes I received when my grandmother passed away. It has always meant the world to me and it reminds me to take things in stride; to share who I am with the world, and I honestly believe singing and dancing in the rain is something the child in all of us would embrace whole heartedly.
I love taking photographs because they capture beautiful, memorable moments. Looking back at a younger version of myself reminds me of the unique story and journey behind every stage of life.
A $2 bill. My aunt Mildred has never forgotten a birthday. My first memory was when I was 3 and she sent me a $2 bill to say happy birthday. I'm now 63 and aunt Mildred is 90! And yes, she still sends it to me. It represents a reminder of consistent love; she's never forgotten my birthday and I've never forgotten her love.
I have held on to a recommendation letter from my first supervisor right out of college. It means so much, not simply because it acknowledges what I accomplished, but for the standard of professionalism, integrity, ethics, and trust it reflects regarding how I showed up.
One thing I have kept over the years is a teddy bear that my bonus daughter gave me for Valentine's Day more than 25 years ago. She was in elementary school at the time, the bear was a 'love bear'. What meant so much to me was that she chose to give me something that represented love to her and wanted to share it with me. To me, that gift symbolized her acceptance of me as her bonus mom. I have kept that love bear because it represents acceptance, being accepted for who I am and how I am. It was a meaningful gift from someone who was extremely important in my life then and continues to be today. All these years later, that little bear still reminds me of the love we shared and the special bond we began building early on.