Last weekend my brother and I cleaned out all the personal items from my mother’s apartment. We took pictures off the wall, ornaments and framed photographs off of tables, and items out of drawers. Then we packed the things carefully into boxes and shipped them to Connecticut where we will gather with the rest of our siblings and distribute these things. As we did this I often found myself stopping and remembering – an event, an adventure, or just a conversation. These memories are so precious;even though recalling them can be somewhat bittersweet. What I teach my clients and what I now must remember myself is that I do not need to have lots and lots of things to remember my mother. I will be taking a few of those things that my brother and I so carefully packed and I will treasure them. Just as I treasure my memories.
