Sifting Through a Lifetime

After settling mom into the care home, 

Monika and I began to go through all of her closets,

dressers and cupboards.

Anything that belongs to her - as most things do -

since Abe moved in with very little and left his place as it was, 

for a summer home and the place his family meets up.

We went back day after day ... to work,

but somehow drawn in an inexplainable way.

I can only say that for me this was a good time to do 

what eventually would have to be done anyways. 

We sorted through clothes, jars, plastic containers,

dishes, boxes of cards, photos and  purses, 

taking bags upon bags to MCC and recycling.

Each time giving away a piece of her life ....

and sometimes getting back into my car with uninvited tears.

When we just ran out of time we took boxes home to sort...

finding small treasures to share with the family. 

I'm still not done with those.

We gathered her purses together and set one aside,

to remind us of how her purse could tell a story on it's own.

Cough candy, tissues, a plastic rain bonnet (either in her purse or coat pocket)

and evangelistic tracts could often be found in her purse.

I tried to tell her that people don't read them,

but she had a way of winning peoples hearts.

When she lived near a local high school, she noticed students

gathering by a certain fence for a smoke

and she'd meet up with them to hand out tiny Gideon Bibles or tracts.

Even they treated her with fun and respect as far as she was concerned. 

She never said that they gave her a hard time.

Sometimes Monika or I would cry out with joy over finding something 

we had not seen for a long time ...

such as a box of tablecloths, some of which have been 

packed up several times in the past 60 years. 

We divided them among us,

our only regret being that we cannot ask her any more which ones 

were handmade by her.
She only comments, "how pretty!"

The crocheted tablecloth was a wedding gift in 1956 -
the same date inscribed on a wedding band
I now wear with pride.

Sweet treasures.

This week we invited mom's granddaughters for

a wee lunch at her apartment.

We set out her china, doilies, aprons,

sewing machine, bake ware and jewelry -

for each granddaughter to choose some items 

that were meaningful to her or her husband.

We were eight altogether ...

the three that could not be there were 

included via photos and texts.

One mentioned that it seems a bit strange to do this

while Oma is still here,

but on the other hand, we agreed that

it was also good to know that we

can still go and say hello -

which always brings a smile to her.

What I loved most about this time, 

was seeing the love each one expressed 

by desiring to keep the special memories

tied to a specific item,

whether it was a teapot, a piece of jewelry, an apron

or, maybe even more so, 

her old well used, wooden rolling pin
a grandson was happy to claim.

It may seem strange to write about this.
At least, I have never read how others process this stage,
but I want to remember this day,
feeling so very thankful that
my children and my nieces and nephews value their Oma's influence.
It makes me so proud of them too!

♡♡♡