A Basket of Memories

nightowls, our daily blog
is from our own Bon'Oregon

what a ingenious idea!

A Basket of Memories

by Bon'Oregon


Recent blogs and posts about departed loved ones and fond memories of them reminded me of something I made many years ago for my mother. At the time, I thought it was just a little something extra for a birthday, to entertain her for a few moments that day. It has proven to be much more than that. Many of you are so crafty, I thought you might enjoy taking the idea, modifying and improving upon it in any way you choose.

First, I found (at Michael's, of course) a miniature oval wicker picnic-style basket (approx. 5"h. x7"l. x 4" w.). You know the type: two-sided flip-up top that folds up from either side to the center bail handle. I chose to embellish it on either side (bring on the glue gun!) using matching leather oak leaves with tiny bronze acorns. A length of narrow ivory matte satin ribbon completed the presentation.

THEN, the fun began! I purchased a lined note paper tablet which had various pastel colored pages and, using the paper cutter at work, cut identical-sized 1 1/2"h. x 6" w. strips (approx. 100 of them). Over the course of a blustery November weekend, I nestled in with my fondest memories, from early childhood in our family home through middle-age occasions and events, all of which had included my mother. Once I got started, there was no stopping. From the most mundane and fleeting moments that I had no idea were permanently etched in my memory bank, to the more major milestone moments, the floodgates were open! On each slip of paper I wrote one little memory. Each of us has a different life and different memories, so yours would be unique unto you, but I'll share just a few of mine (not too personal) which included.....

*Bubble lights on the Christmas tree *Summer neighborhood parties with homemade, hand cranked ice-cream and fresh in-season fruits. *Making sure we got home from Wednesday night church in time for 'Ozzie & Harriet'. *Walking through the snow to cattle auctions in Snohomish with Grandpa & Uncle Marvin. *Picking green apples together in the abandoned orchard where Dad was hunting. *Watching Sputnik overhead from the backyard *Sitting together glued to the TV for 4 days when JFK was assassinated. *Collecting Beanie Babies together *Climbing sand-dunes while camping at Honeyman *Shopping together for THE dress for your 50 Year High School Reunion.......After about 100 of these, I folded each in half, fortune cookie style; then, 'scrambled' them gently together so that the different colors and decades were well mixed. All were then tucked loosely into the 'Basket of Memories'.

I don't recall what my primary birthday gift to Mom was that year. But, I can tell you that the 'Basket of Memories' delighted her that day and stayed on the side-table next to her favorite chair for the rest of her life. She'd often call me on the phone to chat about the context of a particular memory. We dumped them all on the dining room table and had many a chuckle over Saturday coffee more than once. When she couldn't sleep at night after Dad passed, she'd get up and read through a number of them again and again. She'd shake the basket and pull one out like a Thought for the Day with her breakfast some mornings. Now that she's gone, I have the 'Basket of Memories' again, and return to it often. Last Mother's Day, I took the basket with me when I went to 'visit' with her at the cemetery and I swear I could hear her chuckling along with me.

Your 'Basket of Memories' might be a different shape or size. It might be housed in a hat box, dad's or child's lunch box, or a family heirloom. It might be from you to a parent, spouse, child, lover, best friend, or all of the above. But, trust me, it will be a gift that keeps on giving.