All this talk of sewing and such reminds me of a conversation my sister and I had with my mother when she (Mother) was in Shady Pines, Version 3.1. Someone with Alzheimer’s often doesn’t know where she is, but events that took place decades ago are as clear as if they just happened.
Out of the blue, Mother to Debby: Do you remember that skirt?
Debby: What skirt?
Mother: The black and white skirt I made when we moved to Ft. Benning.
Debby: No, I don’t think I remember that skirt.
Mother: I loved that skirt.
Me: I remember that skirt.
Mother (happily): You do?
Debby (doubtfully): You DO?
Me: I remember that skirt because I hid behind it when people spoke to me. I felt safe.
I knew to keep my explanation simple, but I remember that skirt for another reason: I used it in Three Fortunes in One Cookie.
My mother took me to the doctor one day, but she had no license then, so someone drove us. I’m not sure who, but either before or after the appointment, it must have been that person who took our photo. I can still feel the warmth of the sun, and hear the sound the skirt made when the breeze whipped it around my mother’s legs. I wasn’t afraid of doctors or hospitals by that time; still, my mother was, as always, a sustaining presence.
The scene was much different from the one I wrote in 3F for Phillip and his least favorite aunt, but the skirt whipped by the wind, and the happiness of the memory, was the same.
That’s a cool skirt, and a cool lady wearing it.
Was I there for that conversation? I seem to remember it.
I think I told you about it.
So vividly I thought I was there, apparently.
How lovely that you incorporated that!
I hope you don’t mind…
I thought your memory deserved a little better picture:
Re: I hope you don’t mind…
Good job! Thanks!
Re: I hope you don’t mind…
That’s such a nice picture of you two in every sense of the word. It just gives off such positivity. When I was going through my family photos and organizing them, it really hit me how important having pictures of our family and friends are to us.
Re: I hope you don’t mind…
I have possession of all my mother’s photos, and I promised my family I’ll scan them all in on disks for all the kids and grandkids, then we can divide up the originals. I also told them to give me about two years to do this. My mother didn’t have nearly as many photos as I do, but it’s still a daunting task. And of course there are many that I have no idea who they are.
It’s great that you’re organizing yours now, when you can ask questions and talk about favorite memories.
wonderful picture 🙂