Ignite a Memory

Lighting a morning candle at my desk has become a ritual. It offers cheer while the sun comes up, and signals the beginning of my study and writing time. 

The other morning I pulled out a matchbook. Looking at the cover, I recalled the moment I snagged it from the restaurant greeter's podium in a large glass bowl.  We were at the Old Ebbitt Grill in Washington D.C.  Happy memories of the trip we took with our grandson three years ago were as close and bright as the shimmering flame.

How marvelous that our brains can store details and bring them to life in an instant. It only takes one stimulus to start a chain reaction.  Feeling the smooth, shiny cover of the matchbook spurred memory of the sounds of clinking silverware and lively conversation. I remember our table's placement in the dining room, and the painting of a nude woman hanging by our table.  My grandson, 10,  glanced at it and acted so cool, like he was used to naked ladies hanging on the walls.  My brain recreates a whiff of the grilled cauliflower “steak” on its past our  table. We enjoyed conversation about what we’d already seen and the Spy Museum we’d see after lunch. I proudly watched my grandson use his best manners, appropriate for a table covered in linen. All that, just from picking up the matches.

Recently I used up the last of the table favors from by daughter’s wedding in 2002. It evoked the conversation when she wondered why she ever ordered matches. I can see the vivid flowers on the tables, the beautiful blue sky, and  the perfect July temperature. I feel the joy when her dad in his tux lead her down the path in the rose garden, and her brother-in-law performed the ceremony. So many moments relived in a split second! I’m sorry to see the last of the matchbooks used up.

We non-smokers don’t have much use for match books, but they do make perfect souvenirs.

I think I’ll go digging around my drawers and see if I have any more of the little cardboard matches that fire the synapses in my brain.

Go rummage in the kitchen. Where are your matchbooks from? What do they set alight in you? 

Mometos like Breadcrumbs Leading Down Memory Lane

My grandchildren have returned home after a visit full of fun. But they left behind little momentos, like Gretel's breadcrumbs, to lead me down memory lane. 










First I found the little ring of stones they placed around an ant lion transplant, to see if it would make a new hole. It did. Then I saw the pile of shells Addie brought back from the beach and spilled out of her bucket onto the porch so she could use the bucket in the sand box.  On the fridge door their chores-for-money tally marks remain. When Bill empties the ice cube trays I think of Keeler doing that job for us (twice a day - big bucks!)

Their comments are written down so I won't forget the laughter of the moment. 


They flew into Raleigh after an all night flight, and we drove directly to the coast. That day we packed in breakfast at a French creperie,  and midday at  the beach. After wave jumping and some body surfing we checked into the hotel where the kids swam some more. By the time they cleaned up for dinner they were tuckered out. My grandson (8) said, "It feels like the morning of today was yesterday." 

me and Addie with our berry baskets

Once home we picked blueberries for breakfast which our granddaughter  illustrated. That's the two of us with our berries and some of the flowers in the yard. That's going to be near my desk until it fades away. 








The kids loved the skenks which scuttled around on the deck, but were uncomfortable with the bugs which found their way into the house. One night they spotted a particularly large spider. It was too big for me to squish, so we called my husband who had just finished his shower. He didn't respond quickly enough so I hollered "Come naked, it's getting away." 

Addie countered, "No! That would just be too awkward for all of us!" How does a 6 year old come up with that? 


We made lots of new memories, and even created a couple of traditions. This was their second visit to the Fourth of July fireworks in Shoals. We spread out our blanket, and they walked across the street for an ice cream bar at a little market. 

Most every afternoon we stopped and just chatted during "happy hour." 






I love that they can picture our home and the yard, which Keeler said was like a park. They love being out in the country chasing lightening bugs and being able to set off fireworks.  Keeler commented that if we move back to Colorado, he won't be able to visit us here. 

Yep, that's the rub. 

newts at Hanging Rock State Park

He must have thought about it quite a bit, because on a grandpa-grandson hike he mentioned that he thinks he's ready to fly by himself now. And when he grows up, he'll buy his own ticket to visit us. He asked Bill, "Should I get it one-way ticket or round-trip?"  

Sounds like he might like to stay.