An Afternoon With That Treasure Chest

As a first grader, my boy looked forward to Fridays at school. That was the day when the teacher opened up the treasure box and rewarded the kids who had behaved well. Once during a parent-teacher meet, she described how overjoyed the kids were as they were allowed to go to the chest and pick any toy or trinket of their choice. I clearly remember the smile on the face of my little one when he came back home with his prized possession.

One afternoon not too long ago, I was in the same frame of mind, filled with wonder as I rummaged through a treasure chest. Only it did not have jewels that I could wear but rather scripted moments that have been such precious bits and pieces of my life. They made me experience a plethora of emotions: I was ecstatic, sad, and nostalgic, all at the same time. 

While frantically searching for some important document, I happened to open a drawer with things that I had not seen in a while. Something that I thought I would cursorily look at made me walk through a long, winding road. I randomly picked a few letters, pictures, and cards that had so many stories hidden behind them. 

Rewinding and Reflecting

There was a newspaper clipping with an article on how to treat headaches. Attached to it was a letter from my father. Having read that piece, he mailed it all the way from India to the USA, thinking it would help me because I have such frequent headaches. It has been eight years since Papa passed away, and reading through that page brought tears to my eyes. Who else but a parent can think so much about his or her children?

My mother’s letters were much longer than my dad’s. She literally gave a running commentary of whatever was happening in the house. There was a distinct shift in focus after my son was born. She enquired more about him than me: a clear testimony that grandkids usurp a place that once rightfully belonged to their parents.

A note written to Santa Claus by my then six-year-old was in the pile. Besides listing what he wanted, he had an interesting question about how many deer besides Rudolph moved around with the kind old man. How I wish I could get those days and that innocence back!

The greeting cards sent by family and friends for all of the special occasions clearly showed that we were being fondly remembered. Then there were a bunch of photographs that took me on a journey down memory lane. We belong to a time when there was a limit to the number of pictures we could click in a roll. Once over, we got the photos developed and preserved them with great care. It was nothing like these days when we have thousands of pictures on our mobile phones and sometimes can’t even find the picture we want.

Not Just the Kodak Moments

The camera captured those joyous moments when our happiness overflew the brim. Several things came to my mind as I looked through those photographs. One thought that struck me is about the truth embedded in the root of human existence. The only thing that is constant is change. The little ones have all grown up, and most of us now no longer look the way we did once upon a time. 

I was deeply saddened to remember dear ones who have gone away from my life forever. However, along with that tinge of sadness was the feeling that I was fortunate to have such wonderful people in my life. That itself was immensely heartwarming.

Winding Up With Some Afterthoughts 

I put everything back in its place and closed the drawer, not with regret but with gratitude for all of the blessings that I have been bestowed with so far. 

The younger man of the house has said on several occasions that my emotions and sentiments take a front seat whenever I write my articles. I do not disagree with him. I am sure he will say the same thing when he reads this post, but that’s who I am. We cannot rewind and bring back the past to the present. It is the tapestry woven with our memories that we need to hold on to in order to remind us of who we are and what we have been! 

I believe many of you have sailed in the same boat that I did. Have a super Sunday 😊