Catholic Singles

KEEPSAKES
BY: MARK ANTHONY ROSOLOWSKI


Springtime is a time of rebirth, is a time of renewal and above all it is a time to spring clean. Growing up I dreaded the coming of spring. Every spring my grandmother would come to visit and would stay for two weeks and during that time it was SPRING CLEANING. Now don't get me wrong I loved my grandmother's visits, I loved the cookies, pies, and other great things she baked, but as any teenage boy will tell you I hated the cleaning part. During the cleaning after school we would come home and have extra chores to do, combine that with the normal chores plus homework, left no time to go outside and enjoy the spring. But the house was clean, windows did sparkle, and there was that clean, fresh smell after a winter of having the house closed up.

I continue that ritual till today, at one time it was just my wife and I then as my daughter got older it was the three of us and finally my son grew into helping. Then as time moved on my daughter went to have her life, it was down to the three of us. Eventually my son moved on, so it was back to two, as my wife got sick and eventually died, it be came just me.

This year I decided I was going to go that one step farther and get rid of all old papers and miscellaneous items I have been collecting over the years. As I started I opened a drawer of the file cabinet, a shoe bow with my daughter's name on it, I opened the box. I took out a macaroni necklace, a clay ashtray, a Christmas ornament she made in school with her picture, hand made cards for mother's and father's day. As I looked at these items, each one brought back a special memory. A moment in time was captured in each item. I put everything back in the box and returned it to its place in the drawer.

The next box I saw had my son's name on it, in this box was a baggie with dried dandelions in it, and a note, to mommy, I love you, your son, Joe R. I saw a hand drawn picture, my family, stick figures and under each figure was written who they were. There were also the assorted hand drawn cards, and a letter that started Dear Santa. I saw various art projects, report cards, and a note to the Easter Bunny; I replaced each of these items in the box. As I closed the box, I thought back to the times we had as a family, I closed the drawer and opened the next one.

Another box, nothing written on it, I pulled the box out, looking at the box, it was old, taped together, and in poor shape. As I lifted the lid, I saw things that I had given to my wife over the years. In this box was also my daughter’s ankle band from when she was born, a blood pressure cuff they used on my son when he was born 11 weeks premature, it just fit around my pinkie. There were pictures among the items as well, looking at the pictures, I realized it is true a picture is worth a thousand words. I replaced the box and sat there thinking about the past. I closed the drawer and decided that cleaning out that cabinet was not really all that important, I never really used it anyway so not having the space was no big deal.

I left the room and went to sit in the living room, as I sat there; I looked at the crucifix that is near the door joined wedding rings with 25 over them. I saw the first picture my wife and I purchased, it is the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I saw the clock she just had to have, I saw her curio cabinet, it use to be full of her crystal, now some packed away, other pieces given to my daughter and son. I go to the curio cabinet, now full of my elephants, I look at them, and each one brings back a memory, stirs a feeling.

I sit back down and I thank God for the full and rich life He has given me. These little items, these keepsakes will keep my memories of the riches I had alive. I look forward to filling more boxes with more memories as I move on.

If it is in God’s plan I will be able to do that for a long time, and with a lady by my side making these memories together.