A weather downer for some perhaps, by the sound of chattering teeth, occasional gasps, and a few deep exhales with a visible vanishing cloud. Yet for me, and some very lucky early-to-arrive bargain shoppers, the sun shone brightly beyond those clouds of sky and breath. I felt warm radiant waves of love seeping its way through the ether, touching my heart, spirit and soul. I could feel the beams of that radiant light pulsating from the generous beings who donated, shopped, helped, or just stop by to say “Hello.” A new friend here, an old friend there! Family and neighbors everywhere! I was especially fond of a young-at-heart man that had a glorious sense of humor and heeded my son’s request to, “Come back real soon!” He did come back real soon, and I highly doubt that he “needed” that scissor/tool/thingamajig he threatened to cut Laurie’s tulips down with, but we were happy to see it go. It looked functional, but very dangerous. :)
A wood-baked just right pizza from Olive’s, a steamy cup of Bikery tea, and the yummiest of hot chocolates to warm chilled bones. Some of the best of Marine on the St. Croix within our perched view. One of the things missed, the beautiful chocolates from St. Croix Chocolate Co., darn it! A perfect grilled cheese for my son, cooked to order at the Brookside (‘super melty please!’). On Sunday a touching benefit with the sounds of local bands in the air, drifting up the hill to sing in our ears. Memories and reflections of a life cut too short. I, never knowing the man being honored, but thinking of him and those left to bare the pain of losing of him. Another opportunity to pause, take life in, and appreciate the moment and all I have been given. A community coming together to remember a loved one at one end of town, and a community coming together at the other end of town to help a community half a world away.
Your junk, his treasure. Your past, her future. Stories shared, memories recalled, moments of clarity, a tear here and there, gut-belly laughs, moments of fear when thinking of this far away adventure to India, just around the corner. A smile from a memory of that salamander swimsuit sold for 50 cents, the memory of that swimsuit worn a lifetime ago, yet so clear I can recall that very feeling of holding my baby boy in the cool waters of June. Those green salamander sprinkled water trunks seemed too big to hold him at the time, and now a heartfelt memory etched in my mind, a mind that cannot believe how fast time is passing. Seven months, turned to seven years in a blink. My son’s left foot would not fit into one leg of that amphibian-detailed swimsuit, and so it had to go.
Seeing the mementos being hauled away that carry so many memories within them, allows a short pause in honor of this very moment, the here and now. I will hug my son tight, his pinstriped button up shirt soft in my palms. I know that when that shirt is carried away from another garage sale on some far off date, or dropped off to the Goodwill garage in a cleansing of my own garage, it will hold within it a hug, a memory, a moment of pause, and understanding for how wonderful and fleeting this life truly is.
From the memories of mine and others’ that were left unsold, I tuck away a pile of GAP baby socks, a soft white onesie that bears no trace of baby-wear (a miracle!), a striped baby hat that warmed the noggin of my little newborn baby treasure, a burp cloth, a blanket, a collection of love in my suitcase headed for the East. What I cannot fit in my luggage, also loaded with medical supplies, I will drop off at the golden gates of the Goodwill garage. Your junk, her treasure. His past, her future. The need for help is all around, and I am honored to know such generous folks. Your wonderful gifts will travel not far from your back door, to the other side of the world where they will surely help to brighten the day of many.
You, my dear friends, teachers, students have brightened my day, my life, and I promise to take many pictures of smiling faces receiving your gifts!
