This weekend is father's day but it is also my dad's birthday. We celebrated by having a brunch at my house with my son and his family. When I was young, my dad would let me stand on a chair and 'help' him cook. This provided quality time with dad and by time I was about eight I knew my way around a kitchen fairly well. I did the same with my children, and now my granddaughter has her very own little pink stool so she can help me in the kitchen. My son's girlfriend has a two year old boy, who is like a grandson to me, and today he too wanted to help so we had to limit her help to clean up and setting the table.
After everyone left I realized that my garbage disposal was jammed. I spent an hour of tinkering with it and finally decided that I may need to call a plumber. As I began to scoop out the standing water with a turkey baster, I noticed that the drain looked different. I ran my fingers around the rim and then I could not keep the smile off of my face as I pulled out a child size glass with little daisies all over it which was wedged down inside of the drain opening. It made me wonder if it had been put there by my favorite little helper because when my granddaughter visits, she always leaves something behind. She told my daughter once that it was " to remind nanna that she was there and so nanna would know she was there." I looked around the room and saw the napkins sitting at a crooked angle in the napkin holder where little James was trying to do his part. Little finger prints were on my glass doors. I moved my orchid, which was a gift from my son a few months ago, and put it back on the table. Next I washed the cobalt blue glasses that were a gift from my daughter. Then I looked around for the next chore and realized that I am surrounded by things that always remind me of the people I love, reminders that they have touched my life in wonderful ways.
For example, the egg dish I served in mom's crystal bowl was one of my dad's favorite and dad was the one who taught me to make the blueberry buttermilk pancakes. I have wonderful memories of standing on a chair as my dad showed me how to tell when the batter was just right and how to know when the pancakes were done. My buffet has a runner that my grandma made. Grandma was gifted with needlework and this particular runner is a favorite of mine with embroidery that includes vibrant colors of blue, yellow, and bright pink with hand crocheted edging. My napkin holder was a gift from my mom many years go. It is hand blown glass with napkins in it that have the same colors as the runner. There is also a set of salt and pepper shakers that a dear friend bought for me when she visited Europe. My son's girlfriend had commented on my unusual coffee mug, a mug that my children bought me over twenty years ago.
It isn't the items that mean so much, it is the memories that come with them. Each person that has touched my life has left an imprint of their presence. The imprint of my children, grandchildren, parents, ancestors, and friends are everywhere in my home and in my life, evoking wonderful memories. I can only hope that the imprint I leave on their lives will evoke happy memories of me long after I am gone.
Once the clean up was complete, I walked into my room and on my bathroom counter, right where I can't miss it, sits a little pink princess crown. It is my little angel's message "I was here nanna. Remember me." ... as though I would ever forget.
Happy Birthday and Happy Father's day to my dad. I wish I could thank him for the wonderful memories. I wish he was here so I could leave a pink crown on his counter and then he too would know that I was here and I am thinking of him always.
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