A Yard Quilt of Memory
When one is younger, she (I give the preference to “she” because I can’t speak for men) doesn’t really consider memory, because she doesn’t have many memories in her cognitive vault. She’ll build them over a lifetime, with some being wonderful and some (hopefully not too many) painful.
My friend, Jackie Damian, once spoke about her garden and how hers reflected the gifts from so many friends. They’d given her seedlings, shoots or infant plants of some flora life form of theirs she’d admired in their garden. As such, her garden evoked memories of her friends… the times they shared…important occasions. I thought hers a beautiful tradition.
I’m apparently doing that with paintings. Jackie gifted me with one of Her Mom’s paintings recently, following our reconnection. We both have husbands in care facilities so Jackie invited me to go to her 60th class reunion (her high school graduating class is only one year younger than my own) as her Plus-One (aka guest). We had a really good time and then Jackie stayed overnight before heading back to her home state of Pennsylvania.
And because Jackie is a career editor, and wife of one afflicted with cognitive impairment, I asked her to review my new book, “Az and Me: A Partner’s Journey with Alzheimer’s.” In the process, she gave me some great tips to improve the narrative (Ex. ‘Caretakers maintain golf courses; caregivers maintain people.’)
The 1st painting–a birch tree reminiscent of the one at my childhood home before the blight (year?) wiped them all out is by friend Gail who takes painting lessons; the 2nd is photo of Jackie and me in our childhood, playing with our dolls (her brother Mike’s head is in the foreground); and the 3rd is the painting by Jackie’s Mom.
So, now, Mrs. Damian’s painting graces my kitchen wall and I am brought back in time to a positive memory.
I am so fortunate to have creative, gifted friends who value our relationship.
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