As the holidays draw closer, past memories seem to inhabit my mind. While cleaning the last little bit of the condo, I found myself thinking about my parents’ dresser, now located in a thrift shop. I recalled my mother standing in front of the mirror, putting on her clip-on earrings. I could hardly believe that the metal chairs on the patio were the same ones we used on the Fourth of July while eating Kentucky Fried Chicken. The condo, almost ready for the next inhabitants, seemed cold and lifeless. Today, my father seemed to be thinking about past memories just like me.
“What was the date when Mom passed away?” he asked. “September 9,” I answered. “It seems like a year ago,” he replied. I agreed with him. The conversation then veered to the actual events. He seemed to be replaying the last several months. When I provided the timeline of events, he was surprised. ” I don’t remember any of that,” he stated, as tears started forming in his eyes. Pictures of the events on my phone seemed surprising to him as well. As we continued scrolling through the photos, his grief seemed to escalate. Realizing that it was too much, I put the phone away. “Come on, Dad! Let’s go look at the Christmas trees around Royal Park!” I encouraged. After several attempts, he finally climbed into his wheelchair for a quick stroll around Royal Park. Their Christmas decorating is truly a sight for all to see. It was a temporary reprieve from sadness and a moment of happiness.
A Journey Worth Remembering 