Due Date

May 5th is the due date. Father and mother will arrive to greet their new home and a host of tasks that may be daunting. There is a lot of memorabilia and numerous possessions to sort through. Five storage rooms, one for just about every room and closet that was emptied in the wake of the pipes bursting. That's a lot of stuff going back into the house even with help. 

In an ideal world, every picture would be hung, every project completed, every document and photo pre-edited. But this is not an ideal world. In theory, turnkey was the goal, so as not to disturb their equilibrium or over-power them. However, impatience is an Irish calling card. They want to come home but honestly who wants the chore and responsibility of sifting through a collection of a lifetime?

Having moved frequently, I've kept my own clutter to a minimum. I just had a taste of what's ahead for them, when some closet remnants stashed in a car trunk, needed to be sorted. There were black and white photos, school pictures, lifetime achievement awards, letters and more photos. Many of the photos were repeats that have gone through several hands before arriving at stop. I created folders for each individual, after I tossed as much as I saved. It was a judgment call but I believe I saved what was important. Had I not had the opportunity, it is quite possible I or someone else would have missed a gem.

Among the items I found, was a postcard to me from father when he went to Italy on a business trip in 1961. It is a hand-colored postcard of the interior of St. Peter's Cathedral in Vatican City. The sentiment that it expresses brings tears to my eyes because I am a sentimental fool. That he should have a granddaughter who would sing a solo in St. Peter's was decades ahead and unimaginable at the time. I'm confident, he never would have expected that honor when he sat down to write a post card to his little girl a very long time ago.

Dear Denise

This is the church Daddy went to on Sunday. It is the biggest church in the world. Don't you think it is pretty. Be a good girl. See you Sunday.

Love xxx Daddy

Dear Daddy and Mommy,
I'll see you on May 5th. I hope you'll love the new house everyone has been working diligently to deliver to you. I do not envy the emotional sorting process ahead. The postcard from our life long ago, is posted on the refrigerator door. Someday, despite the controversy, I'll see how pretty Vatican City is, too. P.S. I'm always good.
Love xxx Denise

Another simple box contains what seems like hundreds of pictures of mother, chronicling her at every stage and age. She is front and center of the camera, the subject, in photographers' parlance. She's every Daddy's little girl growing into a lady. Neatly written on the back in grandmother's distinctive handwriting is the exact location and date and person in each and every photo. No guessing required.

What do you do with such a collection and devotion of love from ones parents and grandparents? Into whose safe keeping does history (her-story) belong?