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By brolgablue
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20 October 2006 |
a nightmare, a green plastic bag nightmare of sepia photographs, white gardenias and family secrets. The key has turned in the lock. The house is empty now. The tapestries so lovingly worked by her once nimble fingers have been removed. The relatives have packed away the nightmare of years of hoarding.
This family custodian has handed over the collection of sepia photographs of girls with white gardenias, and beautiful young men now dead. The Royal Doulton Ladies and the Royal Albert Tea Service lie packed in newspaper awaiting placement in another woman’s china cabinet.
Her boxes of wedding rings, funeral cards, old wills and letters, which tell of family loves, losses and betrayals are stacked in the top of another’s wardrobe. The sovereigns and half sovereigns that belonged to our grandfather nestle still in the hand sewn leather pouch he kept them in; they now lie in my "special place" along with the uncle's gold watches and fob chains.
She knows not, as she giggles like a young girl, speaking her new language, in her new place, a place where all the giggling girls wait for their next journey.
Someone new will live in her little house; the rent collected will help defray the costs of the waiting place.
And I, as the new custodian of our family history, struggle with the unwanted responsibility and think about the time when my children will do the same.
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Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 20th October 2006 | Because I am hopeless remembering names (and have been since earliest childhood, so I know I'm not quite at the Alzheimer's stage just yet), I did not realize right away that you were the writer of 'Rain. . .' which I enjoyed so much.
I found this every bit as good and moving as your last piece. In particular, the image of ''all the giggling girls" waiting for their next journey together is poignant.
I have a box too, full of all those invitations, pictures, cards, secrets. And I know that many of the items in it have been handed down by generations of women before me, sometimes hurriedly and unwillingly, sometimes unwittingly by those past knowing or caring. They really are a burden in so many ways, and yet throwing them out is unthinkable. So I do the next best thing: I take them out and bore my daughters with them. Oddly enough, the youngest is intrigued by the keepsakes and photographs and frequently asks pertinent questions about them. She'll be the one I hand them on to, no question.
Beautiful writing, really -- just keep it up! |
Written by Phil (6383 comments posted) 21st October 2006 | Wonderful writing. I have a box too, although I wish I had more from those that have gone before me.
All the best,
Phil. | me too
Written by patterjack (1055 comments posted) 21st October 2006 | I've not got many from the maternal side Australian relatives -- nor even of parents , but there are a lot of photos of vaguely related English people in Edwardian dress ( the workaday , NOT the fashionable ! and oh those hats ! )
The fascinating one is of a far distant grandfather -- I think.
This then brings back memories for me -- an Alzheimer-ed father and a frail mother .
Almost too close to the bone it's so well done .
patterjack |
Written by pravoxian (6 comments posted) 6th November 2006 | | Brilliant and touching,it feels like I should be sad for her,yet you put it in a way that I cant help but do the opposite |
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