My Most Memorable Memory

It's been awhile since by last blog (sorry, Mom), but this Saturday morning, because I've been up earlier than normal, I'm going to make the time.

I recently asked my seventh grade class to blog about something a little different: If they knew they were going to lose their mind but could keep ONE memory, which one would it be? (This also ties into the book we're beginning to read, I Am the Cheese.) So with that assignment, I thought, "Which one would I keep?'

I have many treasured ones: the day I got married, my first job, climbing the steps at Waterloo, flying in a private jet, driving across America, seeing my nephew Gunnar for the first time...the list goes on and on...

I was torn between three memories. Have you noticed that there doesn't seem to be as many lightning bugs as there used to be? When I was little, visiting my mawmaw in Greenville, SC, I loved catching lightning bugs and then going to take a bath where I would turn out the lights and bathe by the light of those bugs. Another one was a time that my brother and I did this rain dance because we needed rain. Again, I was in Greenville, SC, out on my mawmaw's front porch. We danced in a circle, whooping with our hands over our mouths. Then, lo and behold it rained! We thought we had the POWER! Gosh, we were so happy! Those two thoughts, remembering, just the joy of being a child, the innocence and wonder of it, creativity at its finest! I hate that we lose so much of that.

Although I love those memories, I think I would have to pick my college graduation - not the acutal graduation itself, but all of my family that came, and although it was a bit tense having exes together again, the happiness of having everyone there overcame that. And in keeping that memory, I would be able to remember so many family members, which is so very important to me. All three of my grandparents who attended have all passed on, so I think that's anohter reason why this memory stands out especially my pawpaw, who died the following Wednesday. It's just amazing how God works at times.

In addition to my family, I would also be able to remember the sense of accomplishment and how proud I was of myself. After being out of school for seven years and being married, becoming a full time student again was a little daunting, not to mention surviving Dr. Manigault and Dr. Fulton, but I did what had to be done.

I would always like to remember the happiness of being a child, but I think I would rather remember most of the people (my mawmaw had already passed on) in my life that had such an important impact in my life. I wouldn't be who I am today.