this is my box {i never travel without my box}

I don't really travel without this box, I just couldn't write this is my box without writing the next line of the song. It's a song from my childhood. From a play we saw "Amahl and the Night Visitors" ... You can listen to a minute of it here (including the line I'm talking about !!) Seriosuly, how cool is the internet ???

Anyway ... we're talking about MY BOX today ... I'm not sure where it came from but I have had it for a long time. It has a lock but the key is long gone. My box has been home to many things but for a good number of years now it has housed my favorite memorabilia. I spent a few hours the other day going through it all. Oh it was so much fun. It's like this flood of memories. Childhood. Teenage years. Wedding. Spain. Canada. Japan. Russia. Ohio. Maryland. Italy. Bulgaria. Hawaii. Colorado. Family. Friends. Sports. Postcards. Poetry. Lots of fun stuff ...

And so many stories.

In my box, there are also many little boxes. Those who know me well, or who have known me for a long time, will remember my motto from my teenage years ... "Every box is another step towards organization !" I LOVE BOXES !! My Aunt Lissa made me this box years and years ago. It is a treasure to me ...

Inside this little box is a variety of other little treasures. Shells from various beaches all over the world. A cork. A little whistle. A couple of small silver balls. A pic. Truth be told, I have no memory of any of the items besides the shell that looks like a flower ... Can you see it ? Just next to the cork.

The photo was taken in Italy. It is my and my brother and my sister and our friend. We have recently been reunited with this friend and her family on facebook. Oh how I love facebook ! We've had a few days of photos from this time period and comments and discussions and it is so great to be in touch again !! Have I mentioned recently how cool the internet is ?!

Thanks for all the great comments on my slowing down post from yesterday ... ya'll have some great ways that you slow down too ! And who knew there were so many of us who loved getting letters in our mailbox ??

I'm heading over to the Studio blog. I've been posting regularly there if you'd like to check it out ! There is even some of my work up there now ...

Changing Colors and Dropping Leaves ...

... not something you see round here very often !

And for me, it was such a treat. On the way home from the Falls on Mothers Day, I asked Rory to pull over in a side street that we had noticed on the way in. We'd seen some maple trees with their leaves changing colors and I wanted to take a few photos.

I got more than I bargained for !

As soon and I stepped in the leaves, and heard the crunching underfoot, I was transported to another time.

My childhood. More specifically, to my childhood Autumns.

I remember, when we lived in Fort. Meade, Maryland.

We had a forest behind our house where Jimmy and I used to love exploring.

One of our favorite things was the 'leaf pool'.

I think Ellie came with us too sometimes but she was younger so maybe not always.

Anyway, there was a rather large tree stump that had bark chips flaking off.

We used to pull them off and they were tickets to get into the pool.

The 'pool' was a big hole in the ground that was filled with leaves.

We used to jump from the ticket stump ~ now the diving board (!) ~ into the 'pool' !

I wonder if it was really as fun as we remember it to be ?

I think if I tried to jump into a pile of leaves now, I'd probably not be found for days !

But ... for few moments, while I walked and took photos and listened to the crunch ...

I was there.

Jumping in the leaf pool with Jimmy and Ellie.

And I loved it !


~~~ Originally posted May 16, 2008 ~~~

We're in the midst of packing and more packing and even more packing so I thought I might pull a few posts out of the archives for the next few days ....

Enjoy !!