Seascapes and Memories Collected Through the Years
I am in the process of the extremely difficult task of sorting through a lifetime of memories. When my dad moved in with us last year, he brought boxes and boxes full of pictures, articles, comics, scrapbooks, and other memories that he had collected throughout the years.
My husband, children and I moved into our house a month or two before my dad moved in with us. We were still sorting through our own boxes when all of his arrived. We have an unfinished basement and we knew we would not be using that space right now. So, we put most of the boxes (both our stuff and his) in the basement. The plan was to go through things as we could, while not cluttering up the living space.
I hate to admit how slow we have been in getting through things. We are still overwhelmed with boxes. But, in preparing information for the attorney who is handling my Dad’s estate, I needed to glance through all of those boxes for important documents.
Swimming in Boxes
My husband has been bringing boxes up, one or two at a time, from the basement and I am trying my best to get through them. It’s tough. VERY tough!! All those memories. I just sit there and cry as I cherish the memories, and grieve for the future memories my dad won’t be here to share.
My dad hung on to a lot of things. Memories were important to him and he had a hard time letting things go. He collected a lot of memories through the years. As a result, I am knee deep in old tax documents, receipts, comics from the newspaper, photos, etc.
As I was sorting through a box of pictures and cards, I found a shell-shaped card that piqued my interest. When I opened the card, I found a handwritten note from a woman named Connie addressed to my grandmother, Sonny. The card was sent on the occasion of my Daddyman’s death.
The handwriting was small and lovely. The sentiments expressed in the card were beautiful. And something about them caught my eye.
Connie wrote…
”Found something in a book that Trish gave me that helped…”
The names did not catch my eye…I have no idea who either Connie or Trish are. It was the something she read about in the book that I wanted to know more about.
“The beach is dotted with shells of every description…furled and latticed by nature’s artistry…sculptured and turned, beached to a dazzling white or shimmering with a pearly sheen. At first we may run to catch each one, but soon realize we cannot collect them all…just as we cannot collect all of the moments of wonder, all the songs of joy, but we can clasp the ones that come to us close to our hearts where they will remain forever…”
And My Search Began
Connie did not include a title or author for this quote. So, I typed the first several words into a search engine and found what I was looking for. The book is entitled, Seascapes: Inspiration and Meaning Drawn From the Serenity of the Sea, and is written by Dean Walley.
Since you can find just about anything on Amazon these days, I did another quick search and BAM…there it was. Copyright 1974 and published by Hallmark Cards, Inc.
There wasn’t much of a description. This is what it said.
Inspiration and meaning drawn from the serenity of the sea. Prose with beautiful seascape pictures.
I ordered the book because I wanted to see what more it had to offer. It really is a charming book, full of lovely pictures of the sea and words that inspire. But, above all, I was touched by the quote that Connie sent to my Granny Sonny.
You see, the loss of my precious Daddy has left me feeling empty and emotionally raw. I find that I am wanting to hold onto everything: every memory, every picture, and every object that reminds me of him. I want to, “run to catch each one….”
But this poem also reminded me that I cannot, physically, hold onto all of them. There simply isn’t room and it simply isn’t possible. I can, however, hold on to those memories closest to my heart. I can remember the fun times over the years, the adventures we took together, and the conversations that we had. Hold onto the lessons he taught me and the wisdom that he shared. I can clasp the ones that come close to my heart, where they will remain forever.
And when I am feeling down because of my immense loss, I can remember…
“The rocky coast reminds us of the unyielding strength of the human spirit…standing firm and proud against the problems of life…”
I will stand firm and proud of the legacy that my precious Daddy left. I will cherish the memories he collected over the years. And I will always hold him close to my heart.
