There is a desk in my basement with three drawers. It was my childhood desk, but now its top is the holding station for paper plates, different sized Ziploc bags and extra boxes of tissues. I pull stuff off the top of the desk regularly, but recently I noticed the three drawers and wondered what was in them?
It was a walk down memory lane to find out. The top drawer had stuff from my dad. The middle drawer had a journal and three framed photos regarding my late significant other, Big Irv. And the bottom drawer had folders, one each for the many trips I had taken during the pre-pandemic years.
I have no idea how or when all those items filled those drawers, but what an intriguing find it turned out to be. After reading this, you may want to go open a few drawers that have been closed and forgotten at your house too. What treasures lie within? And in my case, I am talking about real cash money! Four dollars to be exact, found in Dad’s billfold along with a couple of other very dear things.
Come with me now as I explore this treasure chest.
Dad’s drawer:
My dad died in 2010 at the age of 91. Quite frankly, just seeing papers with his handwriting was enough to make my day. But then my heart was warmed — and I better understood myself — as I noted his love of family. It was everywhere apparent.
In his wallet he had lists galore: his doctors, medications and emergency contacts, are of course there. But he also had two adorable little cards. The first one listed the names and dates of birth of his five grandchildren. The other one had the same information for the seven great grandchildren born in his lifetime.
A file in the stash likewise listed the names of his fourteen nieces and nephews — seven on Mom’s side of the family and seven on his — along with their spouses and children. In the same file, there were sheets of paper for my mom, his parents and his three siblings. Each had predeceased him. Jewish folks remember the anniversary of the death of their loved ones annually. This “yahrzeit” is often celebrated on the date of death according to the Jewish lunar calendar. These papers converted the lunar date for all anniversaries through 2017.
It is easy to see what he cherished in life. What a beautiful legacy.
Big Irv’s drawer:
There is a book I love, “Illusions,” by Richard Bach. In it, a god figure comes to earth to teach a mere mortal. The god figure gives the mortal a book to look at, the “Messiah Manual.” Oddly it has no page numbers. One is to open the book to any random page where he will find the exact lesson he needs to learn at that time.
With this thought in mind, I took the journal from drawer number two and opened it randomly.
Oh.
Instead of finding some heartwarming gem like in Dad’s drawer — or a sage life lesson like in the Messiah Manual — I found a rehashing of an unhappy event.
Trying it a second time, I randomly opened the journal again…and had the same result. Hmmm.
Moving on to Plan B for that drawer, I put the journal away and looked at the framed photos. Big Irv and I were all smiles in each one. The first found us at a baby naming. In the second, we were dressed to the nines, headed to a wedding. And the third framed photo? It was just some random happy moment.
So let’s take that as the treasure of drawer number two. Big Irv died over a decade ago and all unhappy events can just be buried with him, as I choose to remember the happy days and the smiles instead.
The travel drawer:
This drawer evoked a couple of thoughts. Seventeen trips were represented there. Seventeen! And while I am still very interested in travel and going to new places, why not take a trip to the basement someday to review and remember those trips?
Frankly, they took place in the early days of digital photography, and in many cases I don’t even know where to look for the photos. They are in the memory of some computer I no longer have, but they are in my memory too. These folders will help jog them.
Additionally, in looking at these folders, I am reminded of looking at old wedding albums. When I look at all those table shots of all the guests, I am saddened to take note of the friends and loved ones who are no longer living. It’s the same with all these trips. Not all my past travel companions are still alive.
A trip to Portland, Oregon brings my Aunt Betty back into focus. Trips to Chattanooga, Yellowstone and the Canadian Rockies do the same for my friend, Margot.
Who knew that all these years later, my favorite sight on those trips would be the person who was sleeping in the same room with me?
Such treasures!
It is said that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. As I look at these three drawers, I realize that I could be viewing them as junk that I need to throw out. But that’s a story for another day. For now, I plan to treasure these treasures.
