Vintage Memories

Memories may fade over time

but they never really leave us

I found this to be true when

I helped my sister move our

mother into an assisted living home recently

As we packed up Mom's belongings she would say:
"Oh I remember this.  It belonged to my
grandmother or this was a wedding gift,
or your Dad gave me that."

As a young British woman living through WWII she met a handsome American GI (aka- my Dad) who frequented the pub her Father owned  

A love story began that resulted in a war time wedding.  
By the end of the war she found herself,
joining many other war brides, traveling
by ship to a far away land - America

Now, at age 94, her memory is fading

but she still has her "Vintage memories"

I was privileged to bring home

some of the pictures and treasures

that tell the story of my Mom's life

 

 Not wanting to put them away in a box unseen,
I found places to display them around my home

Pictures of the Lord Nelson Pub where my Mom grew up, my Grandfather, Mom and Dad

   This is the suitcase my Mom brought over 

on the ship when she sailed to America

Also note: My Dad's Army dog tags 

hanging over the front of the case

Picture of St. Martin's Church on the Walls, Wareham, England, up North Street from the Pub

Growing up I remember a framed picture

of this church always displayed in our home

(it now resides in her apartment at the assisted living home)

My sister and I spent hours going through
boxes of pictures, and keepsakes
and I was thrilled to find this print
of a church that has special meaning to our family

St. Martin's Church sits on the 

ancient walls of Wareham 

and has been an active 

church for over 1,000 years

Just think about the memories it holds

within it's walls

Sitting inside her teapot napkin holder is a 
 picture of her first born, (me)

at the age my Mom took me to

England on the Queen Mary for my christening

and last a vintage case holds

my Grandparents wedding picture

along with family books and bibles

 of a beautiful, brave, strong woman
who we lovingly call 
the matriarch of our family  

Mom, my Sister and Mom's 9th great-grandchild Lelia B

Every Little Birdie says

Today's moments are tomorrow's memories