Beautiful day today with its winter blue sky. Guess I’m getting old ‘cause it was too cold to sit outside. I’m missing my porch pondering. I get my inspiration from swing sitting and bird watching. Could bird watch out the deck windows but I’m not putting seeds out till I’m sure grandpaw raccoon has gone away.

Walked Penelope several times today and watched the cardinals and finches on the feeders. Today was a squandered day. Undecorated the kitchen sink window ledge. No Christmas balls fell in the sink and broke so that was a good thing. Still have two trees up. Got hooked on a scary movie and just vegetated till it was over. Hated the end so that’s why the morning was unproductive. Should have watched Gunsmoke and Bonanza like I usually do in the mornings.

Still have two trees up. All the ornaments on Rosie’s tree involve wrapping in tissue paper and I didn’t have the patience today. I put a large garbage bag on her tree last year and put it in the closet. The tree just wasn’t as pretty this year so I’m going to undecorate it and purchase her a new tree next year. I bought the tree the year she died so its 21 years old. The tree is covered with little shoes and purses and fancy girly things. I love it! But it’s time consuming and tedious to decorate it.

Took my high school charm bracelet off her tree. Might wear it again someday. Anybody remember wearing a charm bracelet? My mother was so good about documenting special events in my life with a charm. A little driver’s license hangs on the bracelet with my actual license number engraved on it. I turned it over and the date I received my license is engraved on the back.

As I sit here looking at all the charms, all the moments of my life as a teenager came flooding back. There is a charm for every event of my high school years. All State Band, Girl’s State, being a bridesmaid in my older brothers’ weddings, National Honor Society, the Miss Handleyan pageant, a snowman, a Raggedy Ann, a little art pallet…. The bracelet even holds a little jeweled trumpet and a silver promise ring from a high school boy friend. My daddy brought me a small gold elephant charm with ruby eyes when he and my mother went to the Cotton Bowl. That charm is one of my favorites. I’ll put it in my jewelry box with my other mementoes.

Y’all have a special place where you keep special remembrances? I have a beautiful jewelry box I purchased at Harrods on a trip to England in college. Sometimes I open it up and look at my treasures. Photos, band medals, my daddy’s wedding ring, my charm bracelet, a ticket from a Shakespeare play, cards from presents Chief and the children gave me, a scrap of wrapping paper, my great grandfather Lane’s cufflinks. Even a baby tooth from one of my children is in my jewelry box.

One of my favorite mementos are two pint jars full of shells and things I picked up on the beach at Hilton Head when I vacationed there twice with my grandchildren. Every time I glance at those jars beautiful memories flood my mind. Aren’t we fortunate to have the ability to remember moments from the past.

Lots of times when I’m sitting the swing and the world is calm, and my mind wanders to happy thoughts of Rosie and Chief, I thank God for all my memories.