Photo Album Memories

I don’t know how cell phones figure out how to put photo collages and “over the years” memories together. I’m sure complicated algorithms and face recognition magic have a lot to do with it. However it is done, my phone graced me with a great photo collection the past few days. But just how did it know I needed these reminders?

For 16 years after Dad passed, Mom and I celebrated holidays together. A few times, I was able to get Mom to sleep overnight from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day. A couple times I even convinced her to go to midnight mass with me, which was way past her bedtime. Afterwards we’d come home and toast the night with a glass of wine before bed. 

So as I sit here and think about holiday decorating and baking Christmas cookies, I can’t help but think about Mom. I remember as kids how we made so many tins of Christmas cookies, all different varieties. I remember having her over my place, and she would decorate cookies for me. She loved seeing the tree decked out and going for rides to see the Christmas lights. And oh my goodness, she would ask if the dog was coming with us. Later as travel got harder for her, we’d spend the visits at her assisted living apartment. She didn’t understand technology, but she loved to do FaceTime and look at photos on the computer. 

In these pictures I see Christmas and Easter and Mother’s Day, and even the day of Luke & Veronica’s wedding. I don’t have a picture of her with Mollie, but boy did that dog adore her. I see her celebrating her 50th wedding anniversary with my dad and how radiant she looked on her 80th birthday. 

I see card nights with Mom and occasionally Aunt Helen. When this memory popped up, I felt myself waving at the two of them. How would I have learned Kings in the Corner without Aunt Helen? For Mom, she was always the card shark and whipped my hand plenty of times. 

I remember the day I went to pick up Buffy to bring her home. Mom went with me and held the pet carrier on her lap. She talked to and comforted Buffy all the way home. Buffy came inside, did a new surroundings tour, and very quickly curled up under the Christmas tree. It was like she was always here with us. 

The last time we took a photo together was the picture of Mom in her yellow sweater. It was Mother’s Day, and she got to meet Jethro for the first and only time. So he’s either cropped out in the foreground or he was on the other side. She passed the following Saturday morning. Now all we have are photos and memories to fill our hearts. 

There are times when I sit here and think, “I wonder if Mom would like this?” Just yesterday I did that again. This time I heard back, “Oh, I just love that!” It’s a good feeling to know she’s still around. And for Dad, there are lots of days I ask, “I wonder what Dad would think of this (fill in the topic).” I can picture him analyzing a situation, listening intently and offering his opinion... “If it were me, this is what I would do.”

So as this stinky pandemic year comes to a close, if you are lucky enough to have loved ones around you, give them a big hug and a extra helping of love this Christmas. If they are passed, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and let the warmth of their love fill your souls once more. Go through a picture album or a cedar chest or an old jewelry box and remember how life was stitched together. Maybe this year we should all raise a toast to memories past, present, and better ones yet to come. And as Tiny Tim would say, “God bless us, everyone.”